New Players, Old Roles? Africa and Latin America in the Global Race for Critical Minerals

This article examines how the current global strategic competition influences the role of Global South, particularly Africa and Latin America, in critical mineral supply chains for the energy transition. The article argues that, despite emerging upgrading strategies, particularly in parts of Latin America, geopolitical competition has not fundamentally altered the structural asymmetries shaping Africa’s and Latin America’s insertion into global mineral supply chains. This exploratory study adopts a qualitative methodological approach, using comparative case studies to examine both regions’ positions, focusing on China’s role in both territories. It draws on primary sources and secondary literature to evaluate patterns of insertion, domestic impacts, and geopolitical alignments. The article builds on critical International Relations concepts, such as dependency and neo-extractivism, combined with diversification and de-risking, to understand the structural asymmetries that persist in resource governance, along with more recent global dynamics.