Resource Nationalism in Chaos: When Dangerous Materials Trump International Order
February 4, 2026
Niger’s 2025 nationalization of the Somair mine and the subsequent contested transport of 1,150 tons of uranium signal a breakdown in international resource governance. By defying arbitration and seeking Russian partnerships, the junta illustrates how strategic minerals now drive a fragmented global order where resource sovereignty outweighs established non-proliferation norms.