It does appear that Western political leadership enjoys an ostrich like ability to not recognise the strategic dangers of being reliant on supplies from abroad, especially from countries who can turn their coats in a flash. Both Russia and China have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted, while being reliant or dodgy African nations for material such as lithium is likely to be just as dodgy. The opposite argument is that it is economically justified to buy where the material is cheapest, but that can be akin to taking the free heroin and then complaining when it is no longer free... We are seeing the same thing with the world wide semiconductor industry: much of western industry is reliant on the output of TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp) - including some devices for the F35! Yes, you can keep spares, although hopefully e MoD learnt a lesson with Clansman radio ICs when an obsolete line closed, a 'last time buy' made and all the parts put in one warehouse which burned down!