Lithium is mostly sourced from Australia[1]. In terms of destructive mining and crazy foreign policies that is probably one of the better places.

Lithium batteries are almost completely recyclable now but aren't for reasons: include[ing] technical constraints, economic barriers, logistic issues, and regulatory gaps[2]

Recycling batteries would be one of the great steps forward in environmental progress. It would also reduce dependency on cobalt mining, which is currently done in Congo where your concerns about "destructive mining and crazy foreign policies" are fully justified.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_lithium_p...

[2] https://cen.acs.org/materials/energy-storage/time-serious-re...