Course Summary

The global scramble for critical minerals, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and beyond, has moved to the centre of diplomatic agendas worldwide. Supply chains that were once invisible are now front-page news, shaping alliances, triggering sanctions, and rewriting the rules of statecraft.

Developed by the Global Diplomatic Forum and drawing on verified research, expert analysis, and real-time reporting from the world's leading international affairs institutions, this course gives you a rigorous, practitioner-focused understanding of one of the most consequential crises of our time.

Key Frameworks & Institutions Covered

• Minerals Security Partnership

• EU Critical Raw Minerals Act

• IEA Critical Minerals Report

• FORGE Initiatives

• Belt Road Initiative

• EITI Stantard.

7 Modules · From Geology to Geopolitics

1. Module 1: The Resource revolution. What critical minerals are and why they sit at the heart of geopolitics

2. Module 2: China’s dominance and the Western response. How Beijing built supply chain control and how allies are pushing back

3. Module 3: Producer countries as diplomatic actors. How resource- rich nations are leveraging the new scramble for strategic advantage

4. Module 4: Energy security as foreign policy. How mineral dependence shapes alliance, coercion and grand strategy

5. Module 5: The diplomats’ toolkit. The practice instruments of minerals diplomacy - from off take agreements to sanctions

6. Module 6: The developing country perspective. Value addition, resource nationalism and who benefits from the minerals boom

7. Module 7: The future of mineral governance. Architecture, institutions, careers and the diplomat’s role in resource contested world.

4.9 /5 Rating

Our course are rated by learner as 4.9/5. Our course are also available in English, Arabic, Spanish and French

Learn when and how you want

• Access your e-learning platform upon registration

• Access your course in English, French, Spanish or Arabic

• Access your course anytime and from any device

On Completion You Will Be Able To

On successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Explain the strategic importance of critical minerals, identify key critical minerals and assess their growing significance for energy security, technological development, economic resilience and international relations.

• Analyse the geopolitics of global mineral supply chains :evaluate patterns of production, processing, trade and dependence, with particular attention to China’s position and the responses of the United States, European Union and other major economies.

• Assess the role of resource-rich countries in international diplomacy:examine how producer states use critical minerals and energy resources to strengthen their economic, political and diplomatic influence.

• Evaluate the relationship between critical minerals, energy security and foreign policy — analyse how resource dependencies can shape alliances, strategic competition, economic statecraft and geopolitical decision-making.

• Apply key instruments of minerals diplomacy:assess practical tools including strategic partnerships, offtake agreements, investment arrangements, sanctions, trade measures and international cooperation mechanisms.

• Critically evaluate development challenges associated with resource wealth: examine resource nationalism, local value addition, governance, sustainability and the distribution of economic benefits, particularly from the perspective of developing and resource-rich countries.

• Assess emerging frameworks for global critical-minerals governance: compare initiatives and institutions including the Minerals Security Partnership, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, the IEA, the Belt and Road Initiative and the EITI, and evaluate their implications for international cooperation.

• Develop evidence-based diplomatic and policy responses to resource competition:apply geopolitical, economic and diplomatic frameworks to formulate practical recommendations for governments, international organisations and other stakeholders navigating an increasingly contested resource environment.

Course Fees

This course is £295.

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