India, US sign framework on critical minerals and rare earths

NEW DELHI: India and the United States on Tuesday signed a bilateral framework aimed at securing the supply and processing of critical minerals and rare earths after the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed the document with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Jaishankar said the framework is intended to expand cooperation across the full supply chain for critical minerals and rare earths.

Speaking after the signing, Jaishankar said the agreement would help build stronger and more varied supply chains. He described it as one more indication of close cooperation in a world facing many challenges as well as opportunities.

Rubio said the two countries could not afford to leave the basic materials needed for these industries exposed to single-source monopolies that could withhold supplies during conflict or use them as leverage against national interests. He said India and the US have strategic interests in ensuring dependable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains important for their innovation-driven economies.

We are two countries that have strategic interests in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy.

Rubio arrived in India last week on his first four-day visit to the country.