Malaysia is facing growing political pressure after a rare earth supply deal linked to the United States Department of Defense triggered backlash from civil society groups and environmental activists.
The controversy centers on Australian mining company Lynas and its processing facility in Gebeng, Pahang. Under a deal reportedly worth about $96 million over four years, rare earth materials processed in Malaysia could enter American defense supply chains.
The agreement has opened a bigger debate about how smaller countries are being pulled into the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
Why Rare Earth Minerals Have Become a Global Power Struggle
For years, the United States shaped global trade and security networks through military and economic influence. Today, critics say that system is becoming harder to separate from global supply chains, especially in strategic industries like rare earth minerals, which are critical for modern
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