We Must Rebuild American Uranium, Rare Earths Infrastructure « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

We Must Rebuild American Uranium, Rare Earths Infrastructure « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary: Rare earths are 17 chemical elements used in military equipment as varied as missile guidance systems to  lasers. China controls much of the world’s rare earth production, which has made them a concern of the Pentagon and the White House. Uranium is another critical military material largely controlled today by foreign sources. What should be done? Read on! The Editor. One way China and Russia are successfully undermining American leadership is by flooding the global market with state-subsided rare earths, including the nuclear materials that power critical American aircraft carriers and submarines. Immediate, direct federal purchases of uranium is one key way that we can counter the malign influence of China and Russia by securing the U.S. nuclear supply chain for national security. Utilizing his newly-created Nuclear Fuel Working Group, President Trump can strengthen America’s position in the world and restore a finite and diminishing American uranium supply with direct federal uranium purchases. China has made production of rare earths a strategic priority. Roughly 80 percent of the rare earths imported by the U.S. come from China. Just 30 years ago, the U.S. was the world’s l