Mineral myths
Dependence on mineral imports from southern Africa and the problem of continued access to mineral supplies do not pose immediate critical or strategic threats to the US and its allies. The primary threat does not come from the Soviet Union, but import dependence and the problem of continued access do pose a challenge to policy makers. It is important that non-fuel minerals and oil not be confused, and to remember that strategic-minerals crises have occurred before in this century. Although alarmists focus on a possible Soviet grab for African metals or the formation of a minerals cartel, they forget that the most-likely supply disruptions will result from unplanned production or supply interruptions that could trigger panic buying. An appropriate minerals policy to deal with the whole range of threats should begin with an effective stockpile program, government support for innovations and new technologies, and establish foreign policies, such as an international producer-consumer organization, to prevent interstate conflicts. The best policy to contain the Soviet threat in Africa is to help them achieve majority rule and undermine the Cuban and Soviet presence in Angola.
- Research Organization:
- Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 6316278
- Journal Information:
- Foreign Policy; (United States), Vol. 47
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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