New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): India and the United States on Tuesday signed a bilateral Critical Minerals Framework, marking a milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations to ensure that the foundational elements required for advanced technology and energy are available within trusted networks.
The agreement builds upon groundwork laid in February 2026 during high-level meetings in Washington, D.C., where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), according to an official statement from the US Embassy.
The statement noted that through this framework, India and the United States will engage in international efforts to protect sensitive supply chains from coercive market practices and reduce collective vulnerability to single-source monopolies.
“The U.S. Government is mobilizing unprecedented resources to secure critical mineral supply chains, supporting projects with more than USD 30 billion in letters of interest, investments, loans, and other support in partnership with the private sector,” the statement said.
“These investments, along with Pax Silica and our reinvigorated diplomatic and commercial engagement, are having a multiplier effect, mobilizing private capital many times greater than government outlays, which will generate billions of dollars in new projects to secure our supply chains.”
The statement added that these coordinated efforts span domestic and international projects, strengthening US national security and economic competitiveness.
It also highlighted that the framework sets a path toward reliable and resilient mineral supply chains, reinforcing key objectives established by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement.
On the signing of the framework, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, “It will strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, help us collaborate on financing, and support the effective management of critical minerals and rare earths.”
Calling the agreement a testament to the strengthening Washington-New Delhi partnership, Jaishankar added, “It is one more sign of how close our cooperation is in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of India for the United States and said the signing of the agreement is a tangible example of the growing strategic alliance.
“I have spoken often during my time here over the last few days about the strategic alliance between the United States and India and how important that is for our national interest in the United States. And today is a tangible example of it,” Rubio said. (ANI)
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