Security Council Discussion: Race for critical minerals intensifies amid warnings of conflict

All of these things are important as part of the global shift from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly energy sources

But there are limits.

Many of these minerals are found in countries affected by conflict, weak governments, or poverty.

What’s at stake?

If these natural resources are not managed well, this can fuel corruption, fund armed groups, damage the environment, and leave local communities no better off than before.

That competing reality dominated the debate all day at the UN Security Council on Wednesdaywhere ministers and diplomats asked simple but increasingly urgent questions:

How can the world ensure that competition for critical minerals supports a green energy transition without fueling conflict?

Here’s what happened

The meeting marked a clear change in the number of Member States compiling critical minerals; not only as an economic issue, but as an issue of peace, security, justice and shared prosperity.

The strongest message that emerged was simple; minerals that drive a green energy transition should benefit producing countries and local communities, not finance conflict, criminal networks, or a new era of unequal extraction.

Key quote

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

“Countries and peoples must benefit, first of all, from the resources that exist in their own territories.”

“No more exploitation. No more looting.”

China

“The state has the sovereign right to independently choose the path of development and utilization of its natural resources.”

Colombia

“We cannot allow this region to once again endure the environmental and social impacts of extraction that colonialism taught us.”

Congo

“Natural resources can be the basis of shared prosperity or the engines of predation. Everything depends on how they are managed.”

Liberia

“Diamonds can fund classrooms, or they can fuel militias. Forests can support communities, or they can finance wars. Geology doesn’t choose. Governments do.”

Pakistan

“The strategic importance of natural resources is increasing as the world transitions towards green energy, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies.”

Somalia

“While the security dimension is critical, the African perspective also highlights that minerals are strategic assets for development, industrialization and shared prosperity.”

Key themes and priorities that emerge

Was the action plan approved?

No official Security Council resolution (which has legal weight), declaration or binding plan of action was adopted.

However, the debate resulted in broad political convergence about the priorities above.

The current President of the Security Council, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which hosted the meeting, propose a Group of Friends on Natural Resource Governance as a possible follow-up mechanism.

This group will bring together “interested” UN member states, the UN, regional organizations and international financial institutions, producing and consuming countries, responsible economic actors and civil society.

Its mission is to “maintain permanent dialogue, share best practices, strengthen existing mechanisms, and formulate proposals in a progressive and pragmatic manner to further integrate natural resource-related issues into the work of the UN.”