Australian Critical Raw Materials in the Global Security–Sustainability Nexus

Australia stands to benefit from the current global security–sustainability nexus, or the convergence of Western actions to meet both security and sustainability objectives, which are centred around the supply of critical raw materials (CRM). Australia is the largest producer of lithium, the third largest producer of cobalt, and the fourth largest producer of rare earth elements resources in the world. However, Australia’s realist pragmatic response to increasing tensions between the United States and China over CRM, which is exacerbating the trend towards resource nationalism, does not provide assurance for its national security. The article examines Australia’s resource liberalism which has embedded CRM mining companies and exports in Chinese dominated global supply chains. Despite limited efforts to emulate the great powers in industrial policy and enthusiasm for joining Western-led agreements, these do not protect Australia from great power rivalry, nor does its resource liberal orientation through open investments, CRM exports, and partnerships ensure its national security.