Part 5/11:
The importance of rare earths cannot be overstated. For instance, a single F-35 fighter jet uses nearly half a ton of these materials. Despite being plentiful domestically in the U.S.—found in states like Wyoming, Alaska, and Missouri—the environmental challenges and regulatory hurdles have hampered domestic mining. As a result, the U.S. and its allies depend heavily on China for their supply, making Beijing's move a potent form of economic leverage.