New Delhi, May 26 (H.S.): India and the United States have signed a strategic agreement aimed at securing the supply, mining, and processing of critical and rare minerals, Tuesday.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of a Quad meeting by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The pact is expected to help India reduce its dependence on China for critical and rare earth minerals.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the agreement establishes a framework for ensuring cooperation in the mining and processing of essential minerals and rare earth elements. Its objective is to deepen India–U.S. collaboration across the supply chain, including mining, processing, recycling, investment, and related infrastructure for critical minerals.

The framework also aims to build a resilient and diversified supply chain, while promoting cooperation in financing and effective management of these strategic resources.

The Ministry noted that this agreement advances the vision outlined during the February 2025 visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump to Washington. The joint statement issued at that time had emphasized the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing, identifying secure supply chains as a shared priority.

It further added that the framework builds upon ongoing India–U.S. cooperation to strengthen supply chain security in key sectors. Earlier this year, on February 20, India became a signatory to the U.S.-led “PAX Silica” initiative. India has also issued a joint statement on the India–U.S. Artificial Intelligence Opportunity Partnership.

The Ministry also recalled that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had participated in a meeting on critical minerals hosted by Secretary Rubio in Washington on February 4. India and the United States are also collaborating under the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) initiative.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar