Washington, DC [US], February 4 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday posed alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other world leaders at the Critical Minerals Ministerial, marking India’s entry into an elite group of nations working to secure global supply chains.
Jaishankar’s presence in the “family photo” at the ministerial in Washington signaled a significant milestone in India’s diplomatic journey. The moment symbolized India’s institutional membership in a select group of countries shaping decisions on critical minerals, elevating its role from observer to decision-maker in the sector.
Convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the inaugural ministerial brought together delegations from more than 50 countries and is being viewed as a landmark event in global supply chain diplomacy.
Ahead of the ministerial, Jaishankar shared images of his meetings with several foreign counterparts, including Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Haji Hasan, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, and Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh.
A primary objective of the ministerial is to diversify supply chains for rare earth elements and other critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, in order to reduce global overreliance on China, which currently dominates mining and processing in the sector.
The United States also announced a new initiative to establish a strategic reserve of critical minerals. India’s participation signals its intent to be a key partner in what is being described as the first-ever global strategic stockpile of such resources.
During the event, US Vice President JD Vance proposed the creation of a preferential trade zone to protect critical minerals from external disruptions and called for the establishment of reference prices that reflect real-world fair market value.
“This morning, the Trump administration is proposing a concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier, more competitive state,” Vance said. He outlined plans for enforceable price floors, reference pricing at each stage of production, and adjustable tariffs to maintain pricing integrity within the preferential trade zone.
Vance emphasized the importance of allies, saying the ministerial aims to diversify global supplies of critical minerals while strengthening partner countries involved in the effort. He also suggested forming a trading bloc among allies and partners to prevent market undercutting by artificially cheap imports, which he said ultimately harm domestic manufacturers and distort prices.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of economic security through critical minerals and stressed the need for allies to work together not only to correct past mistakes but also to pool collective talent and innovation to ensure diverse and affordable supply chains.
Jaishankar, in his remarks on Wednesday, said that “excessive concentration” in critical mineral supply chains poses a major global risk and called for structured international cooperation to de-risk them, as India deepens its engagement with the US-led framework on strategic minerals.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he underlined the challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply chains through structured international cooperation. He highlighted India’s efforts to build resilience through initiatives such as the National Critical Minerals Mission, Rare Earth Corridors, and responsible commerce, and conveyed India’s support for the FORGE initiative on critical minerals.
His remarks come as India’s engagement in the US-led critical minerals dialogue marks a shift from strategic intent to industrial execution. The announcement of dedicated rare earth corridors in India’s 2026 Budget is seen as a key signal of this transition, reflecting a move beyond resource security toward developing domestic processing, separation, magnet manufacturing, and downstream capabilities.
For India, the partnership is central to its “Make in India” objectives, particularly in sectors such as electric vehicles, electronics manufacturing, and clean energy, all of which depend on a stable and trusted supply of critical minerals.
The ministerial concluded with a commitment to formalize bilateral cooperation on mineral exploration, mining, and processing, positioning India not just as a consumer but as a central node in the evolving global mineral ecosystem. (ANI)
About The Author
