Amidst escalating geopolitical tensions, American firms are rapidly seizing control of Europe’s dwindling reserves of rare earth minerals, leaving European nations scrambling to catch up. While official agreements between China and the US aimed at halting a trade war have temporarily stabilized the situation, Beijing continues to impose restrictions on sales to entities linked to defense, thereby dictating global supply chains. This has left a significant portion of rare earth minerals outside of China in high demand, creating an increasingly volatile market. European firms are facing a difficult choice: adapt to rapid shifts or risk becoming reliant on US suppliers, both of which have a substantial advantage in terms of financial resources and expertise.