The Trump administration is accelerating efforts to secure America’s critical minerals supply chains for defense, energy, & advanced manufacturing. Announced in early February 2026, Project Vault establishes the U.S. Strategic

Despite Australia’s position as a leading global producer of critical minerals (as highlighted in Geoscience Australia’s 2025 AIMR report), domestic midstream refining and processing capacity remains structurally underdeveloped.  Key realities:

The Australian Government has awarded $53 million to establish the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC, announced 6 March 2026. The centre will focus on developing and commercialising advanced,