Konstantinos Papadimitriou

For the development of technology, innovation, and especially artificial intelligence, a fundamental prerequisite is the easy access to and exploitation of the necessary energy and rare earth elements. A significant part of my research focuses on the geopolitical and geoeconomic rivalry between the West and the East within the framework of the modern Eastern Question—among other things, the competition for control and influence over global trade and energy routes, as well as control over sources of energy and raw materials. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East can also be seen within the context of these rivalries. It is no coincidence that the Vice President of the Security Council and former President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, wrote on Telegram on August 30, 2024, that the main reason for the continuation of the war by the Ukrainians and the support from the West is economic profit through access to the mineral resources of the Donbas region. According to Medvedev, the total value of Ukraine’s mineral resources is estimated at 14.8 trillion dollars. These claims by Medvedev were also officially confirmed by the American side, with Republican Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham stating on Fox News on November 19, 2024, that the war in Ukraine is about money, emphasizing that the richest country in Europe is Ukraine, with minerals valued between 2 to 7 trillion dollars—rare earth minerals that are essential in the 21st century.