India and the United States have signed a new framework to strengthen cooperation in the mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earths. The agreement was signed in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The framework aims to deepen collaboration across the critical minerals supply chain, including mining, processing, recycling and investments. It also focuses on building resilient and diversified supply chains and promoting cooperation in financing and management of critical mineral and rare earth scrap.
The agreement marks a major step forward in the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in February 2025. Both countries had identified secure critical mineral supply chains as a shared strategic priority for emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The framework also builds on ongoing India-US cooperation in supply chain security. Earlier this year, India joined the US-led Pax Silica initiative and signed a Joint Statement on the India-US AI Opportunity Partnership.
India and the United States are also working together under the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) initiative to strengthen cooperation in critical sectors.
(Image source: MEA)
