REEs are what it's been about for a long time. Because of our dependence on tech.
China's evil, commie One Belt One Road should have insured they'd keep the monopoly. And the new colonialism in Africa is Chinese, not Euro.
This is why our great POTUS' plan, The Build Act, from last Oct., is so essential to our future.
https://www.opic.gov/build-act/overview
We HAVE to get there and establish our goodwill before the Chinese get there and merely enslave the locals.
It is an unmitigated blessing that our POTUS is a builder! That will make more difference than anything.