NATO highlights aluminium in its critical raw material list for defence industry

Regions across the globe are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and have witnessed the significant impact of defence supply, all thanks to the comprehensive list released for the defence industry, which includes everything composed of aluminium, among other materials. The consortium not only points to the relevance of such resources for the military powers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alone but also emphasises upon the uninterrupted continuity of the supply chain.

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It would not be wrong to say that aluminium has become synonymous with metals that can withstand corrosion whilst also cutting weight across missile and aircraft parts and even high-end applications. Such characteristics make it possible for metals such as aluminium to be employed within the defence sector.

Along with the previously mentioned characteristics, NATO's critical list also includes metals and minerals like tungsten, lithium, cobalt, titanium, graphite, and platinum group metals. However, aluminium's inclusion on the list is a constant reminder of its dominating presence in aiding the capabilities of the alliance to defend itself.

As the defence industry of the UK is developing actively, there seems to be a steady supply of metals such as aluminium for use within the industry. This also comes as various commonwealth countries are catching up in terms of aluminium production and have around 75 per cent of the entire UK market share in the sector.

It would now be essential for all NATO members to collectively develop a robust and reliable supply chain for such metals, especially as the NATO alliance has already recognised the importance of aluminium and stated that all member countries would do their best to ensure the protection of regional peace and security by developing a stable aluminium supply chain.

NATO said ensuring a secure supply of these materials is crucial to maintaining the alliance's readiness and technological advantage.

"Identifying these key materials is NATO's first step towards building stronger, better protected supply chains, crucial for Allied defence and security," the bloc's website said.