Mineral Wars

How Ukraine’s Critical Minerals Will Fuel Future Geopolitical Rivalries

As the war grinds toward an uneasy resolution, the battle for Ukraine isn’t just about territory—it’s about who controls its vast critical mineral wealth. With global demand for these resources skyrocketing, Ukraine’s mineral reserves will be a key battleground in future geopolitical rivalries. Whether through war, diplomacy, or economic coercion, the competition for these strategic assets is only just beginning.

China’s AI Strategy

SecDev is analyzing China’s rise in artificial intelligence and its push to dominate the global digital economy. A key factor heightening tensions between China, Taiwan, and the US is control over semiconductor supply chains, as microchips are essential for everything from smartphones to military equipment. SecDev fellows Min-yen Chiang and Robert Muggah highlight in The Conversation US that increasing reliance on advanced chips intensifies China-Taiwan tensions. Taiwan’s TSMC is the leading microchip producer, while China remains the largest consumer. The competition for AI and semiconductor supremacy is a defining 21st-century struggle, with Taiwan’s outbound investment screening serving as a potential model for OECD countries like the US, which recently tightened semiconductor export controls.

Digital Harms and Violent Extremism

SecDev is a global leader in combating digital harms and violent extremism, leveraging over a decade of experience in Asia, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia. We specialize in detecting digital harms and have successfully developed innovative solutions for leading social platforms, governments, the World Bank, UNDP, and national agencies. In Bangladesh, SecDev has built a strong track record over six years, working to enhance digital safety and resilience. Through initiatives like the Kiron Project, supported by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with UNDP Bangladesh , we empower government and civil society to monitor and mitigate digital harms, including cybersecurity threats, disinformation, and cybercrime. Our expertise combines strategic insight with hands-on capacity building, ensuring impactful and sustainable outcomes in one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age.

Strategic Cyber Stability:

China, Russia, United States

SecDev facilitates para-diplomatic engagements in key areas critical to global stability, including strategic cyber stability, the protection of critical infrastructure including nuclear command and control networks, artificial intelligence  platforms, space systems, and strategic information warfare. Recognizing that the new era of geopolitical competition revolves around the commanding heights of the digital world, SecDev addresses the profound implications this has for both domestic and international stability.  SecDev convenes expert dialogues and collaborative initiatives to influence and inform, and preserve  the essential “human fabric” needed for crisis management during times of unparalleled global instability. These efforts aim to maintain engagement and dialog  needed to mitigate strategic threats, and seek avenues for constructive cooperation where possible. This vital work is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

National cyber defence

SecDev/ Zeropoint is at the forefront of building comprehensive national cyber capabilities, empowering nations to defend against evolving digital threats. Our expertise includes developing and executing national cybersecurity strategies, establishing National Cyber Security Agencies, and setting up advanced Security Operations Centers (SOCs). We specialize in training Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) in cutting-edge security operations, deploying protective DNS systems, and designing multi-layered “defense-in-depth” frameworks to secure critical infrastructure. we conduct national cyber readiness exercises and cyber drills, offering practical, real-world experience to enhance response capabilities. Our work is global: Asia, the Western Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America, supporting governments and organizations in strengthening digital resilience.