This news item from the German Bundestag, published on August 22, 2025, at 13:02, reports on a parliamentary inquiry by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party concerning the import dependency on rare earth elements. This highlights a growing awareness and concern within the German political landscape regarding the supply chains of critical raw materials.
Rare earth elements, a group of 17 chemically similar metals, are indispensable for numerous modern technologies, including renewable energy systems like wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries, as well as advanced electronics, defense systems, and medical equipment. Germany, as a leading industrial nation and a proponent of the green energy transition, relies heavily on these materials. However, the global supply chain for rare earths is highly concentrated, with China dominating both the extraction and processing of these vital elements. This concentration poses significant geopolitical and economic risks, as disruptions in supply or political maneuvers could have profound impacts on German manufacturing and technological development.
The AfD’s parliamentary question likely seeks to understand the extent of Germany’s current reliance on imports for specific rare earth elements, the geographical distribution of these imports, and the potential vulnerabilities associated with this dependency. It is probable that the inquiry also aims to explore the government’s strategies for mitigating these risks. These strategies could encompass measures such as fostering domestic mining and processing capabilities, diversifying import sources, promoting recycling and substitution of rare earth elements in technological applications, and strengthening strategic partnerships with allied nations that possess or are developing capabilities in rare earth supply chains.
The timing of this inquiry, in mid-2025, suggests that the issue of raw material security and strategic autonomy has become a prominent concern for parliamentarians. As global geopolitical tensions continue to evolve and supply chain resilience remains a key focus, questions about Germany’s vulnerability to external dependencies, particularly in critical sectors, are expected to be raised by various political parties. The AfD’s inquiry serves as an indicator of the broader debate unfolding in Germany and across Europe regarding how to secure essential resources for future economic prosperity and technological advancement in an increasingly complex global environment. The Bundestag’s response to this inquiry will likely shed further light on the government’s current assessment of the situation and its planned course of action.
AfD fragt nach Importabhängigkeit bei seltenen Erden
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