- BERLIN: Germany’s defense minister says a lack of natural resources and possible cyber attacks are among future security threats threatening the country.
Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told business leaders on Friday that pressing security issues include how to defend the nation’s industries from cyber attacks, and how to secure resources — such as rare earths — that are essential for Germany’s high-tech, export-based economy.
China is the world’s leading producer of the elements, but Guttenberg called for expanded relations with other countries, including Mongolia and Kazakhstan, where rare earths can also be found.
He says securing the rare metals could be “a future point of conflict.”