New Delhi: India and the United States have taken a major step towards strengthening their strategic partnership by signing a significant agreement aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains, a move seen as crucial amid rising global concerns over China’s control of rare earth exports and essential strategic resources.
The agreement was finalised on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing it as a timely and important development for both nations.
The new framework focuses on expanding cooperation across the full critical minerals ecosystem, including exploration, mining, processing, recycling, investment support and technological collaboration. The initiative is designed to ensure long-term resilience in supply chains essential for clean energy, defence manufacturing, semiconductors and advanced digital technologies.
Speaking after the signing, Jaishankar said the partnership would help both countries build diversified and dependable mineral networks while encouraging financing for key projects. He noted that such cooperation reflects the growing depth of India-US relations in sectors shaping future global economic and technological leadership.
Rubio highlighted that the agreement reflects the strategic interests shared by both nations, particularly in reducing dependence on single-source suppliers that could disrupt innovation-driven industries.
He said the framework would help both countries create trusted supply chains that remain insulated from coercive trade practices or geopolitical disruptions.
According to US officials, the agreement marks an important milestone in efforts to establish secure access to minerals essential for modern industrial growth and next-generation technologies.
The deal also aligns with the broader US-backed Pax Silica initiative launched last year to create a stronger and more transparent international framework for critical minerals and artificial intelligence-related infrastructure.
Rubio recalled India’s participation in the Critical Minerals Forum held in Washington earlier this year and said that cooperation had gained fresh momentum after India formally joined the Pax Silica initiative.
The United States has already committed more than USD 30 billion through public and private partnerships to strengthen mineral supply chains globally, and officials believe India’s involvement will accelerate project development and attract further investment.
The agreement comes at a time when nations worldwide are racing to reduce vulnerabilities in critical mineral access, particularly as supply disruptions and export restrictions increasingly affect global technology manufacturing and clean energy transitions.
