Chinese Investment in Afghanistan’s Lithium Sector: A Long Shot in the Short Term
Publisher: Brookings Institute
Author(s): Lilly Blumenthal, Caitlin Purdy, and Victoria Bassetti
Date: 2022
Topics: Extractive Resources
Countries: Afghanistan
Speculation is mounting that China will take advantage of the power vacuum created by the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and seek dominance over that country’s mineral resources, particularly its lithium deposits. These resources play a key role in the global energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable resources. Given its global role in exploiting critical minerals, China’s possible activities in Afghanistan raise both security and good governance challenges to the West. In this piece, we unpack several reasons to be skeptical of near-term Chinese-led investment in Afghanistan’s lithium sector while outlining the broader geopolitical interests that may be driving China’s moves in this space.