While most assessments already estimate the value of Afghanistan’s rare earth elements (REE) at $1 trillion, a member of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences who has conducted on-site research in the region claims the value of the REE in the region could be as high as $3 trillion. This is important because REE are critical in the manufacturing of electronic component parts and green energy products. In addition to destabilizing the delicate balance of geopolitics in the region, the Biden administrations failure in Afghanistan could have repercussions for the global economy if these REE are sold or seized by China, Russia, or other powers in the region.
