this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2024
116 points (96.8% liked)

World News

39142 readers
3291 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Saab chief cautions that Beijing dominates supplies of a key component to make powder to fire shells, and metal for submarines and warships.

Europe is too reliant on China to make powder for ammunition and risks a supply crisis that could threaten the continent’s security, one of the EU’s most important defense contractors warned.

In an interview with POLITICO, Saab CEO Micael Johansson called on governments to cut environmental rules to make it easier for companies to diversify their supply chains for critical military components.

Beijing plays a key role in supplying EU countries with the raw materials they need for their defense industries, even though China is also providing vital support to Vladimir Putin’s war machine in Ukraine. 

When it comes to the supply of ingredients for gunpowder — the propellant used to fire out shells — Western defense firms should look to diversify their sources, said Johansson.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 11 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Beijing plays a key role in supplying EU countries with the raw materials they need for their defense industries, even though China is also providing vital support to Vladimir Putin’s war machine in Ukraine.

China is by far the top producer of rare earth minerals, so if you constantly produce army equipment that relies on them, China is going to become your bottleneck. Now, who has more interest in making sure this strategic issue gets addressed? International private contractors which only goal should be making a good buck, possibly by showing off latest tech toys with a price you can over-inflate as much as you want, or actual armies and governments, which should always maintain an holistic view of their long-term challenges and goals? Production is almost single-handedly managed by the former. Why have we allowed them to bring us into this dead end?

[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

China is by far the top producer of rare earth minerals...

Not for long.

Why have we allowed them to bring us into this dead end?

We are big dumb but we're not quite so dumb as to not try and fix the problem.

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Holy shit there is actually something in Wyoming.

[–] bluGill@kbin.social 3 points 7 months ago

As soon as the armies and governments that buy most of that stuff cares the industry will too. Now money talks end everyone cares about cost more than supply chain so the low cost supply chain wins. Pay more and you can get a different supply chain.