Aim: This study aims to analyze the technological utilization, global reserve distribution, and production structures of rare earth elements (REEs), as well as the structural concentration and vulnerability of their supply chains, and to evaluate their implications for international relations, geopolitical power dynamics, and economic dependency. The study examines the strategic consequences of China’s dominance in global REE production and processing and develops policy recommendations regarding Türkiye’s potential integration into global value chains. Method: The research is designed as a secondary-data-based study employing a structured descriptive and comparative content analysis. Quantitative and qualitative datasets obtained from internationally recognized institutions, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), European Commission reports, and relevant national authorities, were systematically analyzed to assess reserve distribution, production concentration, and sectoral utilization patterns. Results: The findings demonstrate that REEs have evolved beyond their role as industrial raw materials and have become strategic instruments of global power projection. The high concentration of global production and processing capacity in China generates significant supply security risks and structural economic dependencies for advanced economies. While Türkiye’s declared reserve potential in Beylikova represents a substantial strategic opportunity, limitations in domestic processing capacity and high value-added manufacturing constitute major structural challenges. Conclusion: REEs have emerged as strategic commodities at the center of twenty-first-century geoeconomic competition, particularly in the contexts of energy transition, defense industries, and digital technologies. Ensuring sustainable supply security requires not only reserve diversification but also the development of refining capabilities, recycling technologies, and multilateral cooperation mechanisms. Türkiye’s ability to position itself as a reliable actor in global REE markets depends on the formulation of an integrated national strategy.Originality: This study contributes to the literature by approaching REEs through an interdisciplinary framework that integrates technological, geoeconomic, and international relations perspectives, thereby moving beyond purely geological or technical analyses.
Tam et al. (Mon,) studied this question.