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Saudi Arabia keeps doors open to US, China in critical minerals race

Washington is playing catch-up with Beijing to get its slice of the critical minerals sector, which is essential to strategic industries like clean energy, defense and electronics.

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef addresses the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, on Jan. 14, 2026.
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef addresses the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, on Jan. 14, 2026. — Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources

DAVOS, Switzerland — Saudi Arabia remains open to investors from both the United States and China as competition over critical minerals heats up, the kingdom’s minerals minister told Al-Monitor.

“There is a lot of room for everybody. We have interested investors from everywhere, including China,” Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef told Al-Monitor on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to expand its role in global critical minerals supply chains amid intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing.

Speaking during a panel earlier on Tuesday at Davos, Alkhorayef insisted that Saudi Arabia was not choosing sides.

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