Berlin Conference Highlights Africa's Crucial Role in Global Mineral Race
The seventh Berlin Climate and Security Conference recently concluded, with a key focus on the strategic significance of minerals and Africa's central role in the face of global geopolitical unrest. Hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office in collaboration with adelphi, the conference explored the risks and opportunities at the nexus of resource governance, security, and strategic autonomy.
The conference, chaired by Maddalena Procopio of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) Africa programme, brought together key speakers including Maurelio Angelo, Winnie Natala Chibesakunda, Maria de Lourdes Caposso Fernandes, Stefan Steinicke, and Ferre Westermann. These experts delved into the shifting global security landscape, highlighting Africa's position in the race for critical minerals essential for clean technology and industrialization.
Discussions centered around ensuring secure and resilient supply chains, maintaining credible and effective rules, standards, and partnerships in multilateral governance under pressure. The breakout session, chaired by Procopio, explored how the renewed interest in Africa's vast mineral reserves is reshaping the continent's role in the global security landscape and the space left for Europe in an increasingly crowded field.
The seventh Berlin Climate and Security Conference underscored the strategic importance of minerals and Africa's central role in the global geopolitical landscape. With a focus on secure supply chains and effective multilateral governance, the conference highlighted the opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field. As the race for clean technologies intensifies, Africa's role and Europe's space in this landscape will continue to be a critical area of discussion.
