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Why is US begging before China, F-35 fighter jets in danger, one decision by China president Xi brings US on knees due to …
China controls the world's largest supply of rare earth elements, but there is one mineral it almost completely dominates i.e. samarium. This metal is highly important for military use as it is needed to make fighter jets, missiles, smart bombs, and other advanced defense systems. In fact, without samarium magnets, even high-tech aircraft like the F-35 cannot be built.
This growing control has sparked concern worldwide. Experts warn that if China chooses to limit the supply of these rare materials, it could weaken even the most powerful nations by affecting their military strength and defense industries.
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Earlier this year, during trade tensions with the U.S., China banned the export of seven key rare earth elements, including samarium. This was confirmed by Stanley Trout, a metallurgy expert from Metropolitan State University in Denver, during an interview with The New York Times.
The banned minerals include dysprosium, gadolinium, lutetium, scandium, terbium, and yttrium, most of which are used mainly in civilian technologies. However, samarium stands out because it is used almost entirely in military applications.
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Samarium supply halt sparks global alarm
Reports suggest that China's halt on samarium exports could seriously disrupt Western military operations. Experts believe this move could block the delivery of new defense systems and delay the repair, maintenance, and upgrade of existing ones. It appears that China has already started putting this plan into motion.
While export licenses are now being granted for other rare earths like dysprosium and terbium, China has deliberately withheld licenses for samarium, highlighting its strategic importance.
F-35 Fighter Jet production at risk
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, warned that a continued freeze on samarium supply could bring production of aircraft like the F-35 to a standstill. To give context, each F-35 jet requires up to 50 pounds of samarium magnets. The U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, which builds the F-35, is one of the largest buyers of samarium in America.
The shortage is raising serious concerns among defense experts, as the lack of this single material could create ripple effects across global security infrastructure.
America can't do without Samarium, experts warn
William Bain told CNBC that while China has allowed limited exports of some rare earths used in robotics and electric vehicles, samarium remains off-limits. 'If you take critical materials like samarium, especially those used in magnets, they're absolutely essential for building F-35 fighter jets in the U.S.,' he said. 'Without samarium, the jets simply can't be made. That's already slowing down production, and if this continues, it could pose a serious threat to U.S. national security.'
Why the US is powerless in front of China over Samarium
Samarium is giving China a powerful edge in its trade disputes with the U.S. According to reports, China's tight grip on samarium and other rare earth elements has shifted the focus of trade talks away from tariffs and toward rare earth supply. In return for easing some export restrictions, China has reportedly demanded access to key Western technologies.
Western defense firms and the U.S. military do have some samarium stockpiled, but these reserves may only last a few more months. If new supplies don't come in soon, shortages will begin to hit critical defense projects.
