What are Rare Earth Elements (REEs)? Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of REEs in the world.

Rare earth elements are group of 17 elements having unique crystalline, magnetic and catalytic properties which are critical in technology, green energy, defence etc. However abundant, but they are distributed unevenly with major extraction difficult. Multi-dimensional implication of uneven distribution of REEs in world: I Countries like China have more than 90% REE are produces award 60% of REE, there creating heavy dependency. II Other countries like USA mine around 15% of REE, needing competition for critical minerals globally.

III The recent covid pandemic's Russia-Ukraine US-China trade war exposed the vulnerabilities of global supply chain and uneven distribution creating critical scarcity. IV Weaponization of supply chain due to geo-political interests create disruption in the development of technology. V Uneven distribution created velocity in global power order, depriving countries of essential resources to develop green energy vehicles, emerging technology (semi conductor, IoT, Industry 5.0) Both building consensus on efficiency, negotiating supply chain and utilizing mineral security partnership, supply chain resilience initiative, the uneven distribution of REE and its impact can be managed off.