Critical Minerals and Digital Infrastructure Drive Major FDI Deals in Europe and South America

Foreign direct investment is increasingly targeting the dual pillars of the modern global economy: digital infrastructure and the critical minerals required for the green energy transition. Recent multi-billion dollar transactions in Europe and South America highlight how multinational corporations are positioning themselves to secure vital resources and computing capacity.

In South America, mining giants BHP and Lundin Mining have agreed to jointly acquire Filo Mining in a transaction valued at approximately C$4.1 billion ($3 billion), according to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg. This foreign direct investment is aimed at developing key copper projects located along the border of Argentina and Chile.

The transaction establishes a 50/50 joint venture between BHP and Lundin Mining, which will combine the Filo del Sol and Josemaria projects. By merging these assets, the companies plan to create a major new copper-producing district. This acquisition highlights the intensifying global competition for critical minerals, which are essential components for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and broader energy transition technologies. Industry analysts note that securing copper assets has become a strategic priority for global mining firms as demand is projected to outpace supply in the coming decades.

Meanwhile, in Europe, digital infrastructure is attracting massive capital inflows. Reuters and Bloomberg report that the Blackstone Group has announced plans to invest up to €7.5 billion ($8.2 billion) to develop a massive data center campus in the Aragon region of northeastern Spain.

This substantial investment is designed to position Aragon as a major European hub for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The region was selected due to its strategic geographical location and its substantial renewable energy resources, which are increasingly critical for powering energy-intensive data centers. The project underscores Spain’s growing appeal as a destination for digital infrastructure investment, driven by the availability of green energy.

Both of these developments illustrate how foreign direct investment is being channeled into long-term, capital-intensive projects that support global technological and environmental transitions. Whether securing copper reserves in South America or building out AI-ready data infrastructure in Europe, multinational corporations are actively investing to align with future demand trends. These strategic moves are expected to reshape regional economies and establish new hubs for trade and technology.