Xi’s grip weakening? US ally UK launches $65 mn rare earth plan to escape China’s mineral dominance

The UK has announced a major rare earth and critical minerals strategy aimed at ending decades of dependence on China. Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled an ambitious plan to produce 10% of Britain’s critical minerals domestically by 2035, backed by a £50 million fund to boost national security, strengthen supply chains, and support key industries including defence, automotive, semiconductors and AI.