The EU's inaugural summit with Central Asia's five resource-rich states focuses on critical minerals essential for defense and green technologies. Leaders from countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will discuss sustainability, infrastructure development, and Russia's sanctions evasion. Currently, the EU heavily relies on China for critical mineral imports, with 94% coming from China, Malaysia, and Russia—a situation prompting concerns about supply chain disruptions. As China also escalates its green tech ambitions, experts suggest Central Asia may offer a viable alternative for Europe's mineral needs.
"A lot of critical raw materials the EU needs are in Central Asia," Samuel Vesterbye, the director of the think tank European Neighborhood Council, told DW.
"Critical Raw Minerals (CRMs) are indispensable for a broad range of strategic sectors, including the net zero industry, the digital industry, aerospace, and defense sectors," according to Eurostat.
The EU is taking a keen interest in Central Asia... as realization seeped in that Europe was far too dependent on China for critical minerals.
In 2023, 94% of EU imports of rare earth elements came from China, Malaysia, and Russia combined.
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