Marine Le Pen: "New Caledonian Nickel, an Asset in the Global Economic War"

The European Union's industrial future and strategic autonomy are under direct threat due to its crippling dependence on foreign nickel supplies. As global geopolitical tensions escalate, exemplified by the cold war between China and the United States and instability in the Middle East, the stark reality of our reliance on critical raw materials has become undeniable. This vulnerability, particularly concerning nickel, a cornerstone of the energy transition, defense technologies, and even nuclear deterrence, jeopardizes the very foundation of our economic and social model.

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The cold war between China and the United States, the Middle Eastern chaos, Donald Trump's obsession with Greenland, and the brutal rediscovery of our dependence on raw materials and critical materials have sharpened, alas belatedly, the perception of the major risks weighing on French and European industry.

For decades, a dangerous complacency has allowed our industries to become beholden to imports, with a staggering 90% of the EU's nickel coming from China and Indonesia. The latter's industrial sector, heavily influenced by Chinese capital, further consolidates Beijing's dominance in this crucial sector. This profound dependency on economic and geopolitical rivals exposes the continent to severe risks of supply disruptions and potential embargoes, rendering any talk of reindustrialization or rearmament hollow without addressing this fundamental issue.

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After decades of complacency, the conclusion is cruel: without a sovereign and secure supply, the very existence of our economic and social model is threatened.

New Caledonia, with its substantial nickel deposits, represents a unique and strategic opportunity for the EU. It is the only major source within reach that can guarantee a secure and sovereign supply, bolstering our industrial resilience and national security. Prioritizing the development of New Caledonia's nickel resources is not merely an industrial consideration; it is an imperative for aligning our policies with our stated goals of sovereignty and self-sufficiency. Ignoring this potential is not just short-sighted; it is an intellectual fraud that leaves us exposed and vulnerable on the global stage.

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The batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies are dependent on nickel.