Washington, DC [US], February 5 (ANI): The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum welcomed India’s participation, led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the US Department of State in Washington, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
USISPF said the historic engagement would create momentum for collaboration to secure critical mineral supply chains vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security. It noted that India is emerging as a pivotal player in critical minerals, with some of the world’s largest reserves of key resources such as rare earth elements, alongside a rapidly expanding exploration and auction pipeline.
Leveraging this geological endowment is essential not only to unlock significant economic opportunities supporting advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, and high-tech jobs, but also to reduce global overdependence on a limited number of concentrated supply sources, the forum said.
USISPF expressed support for a critical minerals framework agreement that would provide a template to ensure the United States and India access critical minerals through standards for government and private investment. These include mining, processing, and recycling, as well as price guarantees to protect producers from competitors’ unfair trade practices.
The forum also said it strongly supports efforts to deepen government-industry collaboration, including co-developing transparent and predictable policy frameworks and promoting joint ventures and technology partnerships across the mine-to-market value chain.
“We believe these steps are vital to translating India’s resource potential into real projects and bankable, long-term contracts that underpin both countries’ energy security and industrial competitiveness,” USISPF said.
The forum added that it looks forward to continued engagement with policymakers and industry leaders in both countries to advance practical initiatives such as President Trump’s “Project Vault,” which aim to strengthen critical minerals cooperation central to economic and national security, technological leadership, and a resilient energy future.
About The Author
