NATO billions should go to domestic companies, but the raw materials come from China

As NATO countries prepare to increase defence spending, a major obstacle emerges: the West's dependence on Chinese raw materials. In an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, Joris Teer warns that China could disrupt European rearmament efforts by cutting off critical exports.

“China has the ability to pull the rug out from under our rearmament”, Teer says, noting that Beijing already restricts key materials like gallium and germanium. These resources are essential for armour, semiconductors, and drone technologies, but up to 90% are processed in China.

"Rearmament is not just about having the most modern military technology. It is also about having a broad industrial base", he argues. Without urgent action, NATO’s ambitions risk being stalled by strategic dependency.
 

Read the article (in Dutch)