Strategic Summary
Canada advances its global critical minerals posture through deeper R&D, alliance-building, and expanding domestic capacity. Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Defense is planning a substantial $500 million cobalt procurement initiative, while Nova Scotia lifts its uranium exploration ban—highlighting North America’s multi-modal drive to secure diverse mineral sources.
Key Points
Canada Strengthens Innovation and Partnerships
Canada’s government underscores its commitment to collaborative development of critical minerals—including increased R&D, recycling, and midstream capacity—aimed at bolstering allied supply resilience.
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2025/06/17/g7-critical-minerals-action-planU.S. Defense Bolsters Cobalt Stockpile
The Pentagon plans to purchase up to $500 million of alloy-grade cobalt, a key component in batteries and high-temp aerospace metals, moving away from foreign dependencies.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-defense-department-buy-cobalt-up-500-million-2025-08-21/Nova Scotia Reopens Uranium & Emerging Minerals
Nova Scotia has reversed its uranium exploration ban and added uranium, tellurium, high-purity silica, and silver to its critical minerals list—signaling new economic and policy frontiers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining_in_Nova_Scotia
Why It Matters
Canada Builds Strategic Sovereignty
By emphasizing R&D, alliances, and innovation, Canada is transitioning into a provider role—facilitating downstream integration alongside allies.U.S. Diversifies Supply Pathways
The defense-grade cobalt buy illustrates a growing trend: governments securing not just rare earths but related critical minerals foundational to defense and energy systems.Canada Expands Resource Scope
Nova Scotia’s policy shift opens the door to new critical mineral sectors—none more geopolitically important than uranium in a low-carbon future.
Watchlist Companies & Entities
Government of Canada / G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan
Architect of Canada’s strategic midstream advancements and multilateral critical mineral frameworks.
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2025/06/17/g7-critical-minerals-action-planU.S. Department of Defense
Leading major cobalt procurement—core to future aerospace and energy resilience.
http://www.defense.gov/Nova Scotia Department of Energy & Mines
Governing policy reset enabling uranium and new critical mineral exploration in Canada.
https://novascotia.ca/natr/
Critical Minerals Spotlight
Cobalt — Essential for battery and aerospace-grade superalloy production; now attracting strategic procurement.
Uranium, Tellurium, High-Purity Silica, Silver — Canada’s widened critical minerals list showcases diversification into energy and advanced-material sectors.
Action Points
Follow detail announcements on Canada’s G7 Action Plan deployment, especially R&D funding and alliance initiatives.
Monitor DOD’s cobalt procurement timeline and supplier selection criteria—an indicator of new U.S. supply priorities.
Track uranium and mineral exploration developments in Nova Scotia, with implications for Canada’s resource policy and Indigenous engagement protocols.
This briefing is for informational purposes only and is not legal, investment, or policy advice. Information is believed accurate at time of publication. Sources are publicly available.