Photo: screengrab from the official website of Brasil 247

By Brasil 247 - Celso Amorim, Special Advisor to the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for International Affairs, said Brazil should establish a sovereign and strategic policy for the use of rare earth elements — minerals that are essential to advanced technologies such as batteries, semiconductors, and military equipment.

In an interview with TV 247 [on YouTube], the veteran diplomat emphasized the need for Brazil to control its own demand and add value to domestic production before exporting these resources.

According to Amorim, President Lula is considering creating a special council within the Presidency to coordinate policies related to so-called "critical or strategic minerals," including rare earths. The goal would be to plan, in an integrated manner, the use and processing of these materials within Brazil.

"The most important thing is our ability to define our own demand — what we actually need," Amorim said. "We are dealing with something that, while not uranium, is comparable in strategic relevance."

He drew a parallel between rare earths and uranium, noting that both require long-term planning, state policy, and technological mastery. Just as Brazil developed its peaceful nuclear program with clear objectives and control over its production chain, Amorim argued that the same approach should apply to rare earths.

"Defining what we need domestically is absolutely essential — just as we did with uranium, which allowed us to build a peaceful national nuclear program," he said.

Amorim also warned against repeating the old model of exporting raw materials without added value. Instead, he said, Brazil should focus on "industrializing knowledge" by fostering domestic production of technological components and creating skilled jobs.

"It's not enough to produce the car — we must produce and recycle the battery here," he said. "Technology should serve a true ecological transition, not just make us consumers."

The former foreign minister noted that the growing global interest in rare earths places Brazil in a strategically important position. In this context, Amorim said, Brazil should seek a balanced approach — maintaining cooperation with powers while preserving national autonomy.

"We want balance," Amorim said. "It will never be an exact balance, but we want a respectful relationship that benefits both sides."

(Reported by Brasil 247 on October 23, 2025)