India-US
Big strategic move: India and US join forces on rare earth supply chain
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday signed a Framework on the “Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths”, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across the strategic sector.
Why the framework is crucial
According to a Ministry of External Affairs statement, the framework seeks to enhance India–US collaboration across the entire critical minerals value chain, including mining, processing, recycling, and related investments.
It is designed to strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains while also promoting cooperation in financing and efficient management of critical minerals and rare earth scrap.
The MEA said the agreement marks “an important milestone” in advancing the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, DC in February 2025.
The India–US Joint Statement issued during that visit had highlighted the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing, and recognised secure and resilient supply chains as a shared priority for both countries.
The framework builds on ongoing India–US cooperation aimed at strengthening supply chain security in critical sectors.
Pax Silica initiative
On February 20, 2026, India became a signatory to the US-led “Pax Silica” initiative, the US State Department’s flagship effort on AI and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security consensus among allies and trusted partners.
India had earlier also signed a Joint Statement on the “India–US AI Opportunity Partnership” as a bilateral addendum to the declaration.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on critical minerals hosted by Secretary Rubio in Washington DC on February 4, 2026.
India and the United States are also cooperating under the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) initiative.
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