America’s Defense Industrial Base Begins at the Mine – by George Meneshian (Small Wars Journal – October 6, 2026)

America’s Defense Industrial Base Begins at the Mine – by George Meneshian (Small Wars Journal – October 6, 2026)

Home The U.S. defense industrial base depends not only on the factories that produce weapons, but also on the mines, refineries, supply chains, and corporate structures that provide their critical inputs. This article examines how China’s position in critical minerals creates strategic dependencies for the United States, focusing on cobalt, copper, rare earth elements, and ...