As Europe faces growing geopolitical instability and mounting supply chain risks, NATO and the European Union have identified a list of critical raw materials (CRMs) vital to the continent’s defense and technological resilience. These materials are essential across all major defense sectors — land, naval, aerospace, and guided weapons — and are heavily used in sensors, communications, and weapons systems.
According to a recent analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), modern military equipment such as main battle tanks and warships depend on a range of high-risk materials, including copper, germanium, mercury, tantalum, and aluminium. While these resources are integral to advanced capabilities like infrared sights and night-vision systems, Europe remains alarmingly reliant on imports, particularly from China — the world’s top producer of many of these substances.
The European Union has responded by accelerating domestic strategies aimed at reducing foreign dependence. The Critical Raw Materials Act, passed in 2024, focuses on boosting local extraction, refining, and recycling of key materials. Meanwhile, countries like France, Spain, and Germany are introducing tailored national initiatives. France has authorized industrial stockpiles, Spain is reinforcing supply chain frameworks, and Germany has launched a national raw-materials fund for the defense sector.
Other European nations, including Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, are also preparing policies to secure access to these strategic assets, though specific defense-oriented documents are still forthcoming. Collectively, these efforts mark a shift toward greater autonomy and resilience in Europe’s defense supply chains.
