South Korea Eyes Australia’s Minerals To Surpass China As Battery King

South Korea Eyes Australia’s Minerals To Surpass China As Battery King
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison witness a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Dec. 13, 2021. Lukas Coch - Pool/Getty Images
Daniel Khmelev
Updated:

South Korea is making a beeline for Australia’s vast critical mineral deposits in a bid to reclaim the throne as the world’s biggest electric vehicle battery maker.

With South Korean President Moon Jae-in becoming the first international leader to visit Australia since the reopening of its borders, the two nations have made significant bilateral strides—including a historic, billion-dollar defence contract for the Australian military.