At the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington on February 4, Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar affirmed India’s commitment to international frameworks that reduce vulnerabilities in critical minerals logistics. The endorsement arrives amid US exhortations for partners to build a cohesive trade architecture.
Jaishankar pinpointed the hazards of lopsided global supplies, insisting on orchestrated multilateral action. He spotlighted India’s arsenal: the National Critical Minerals Mission for domestic ramp-up, rare earth pathways, responsible business conduct, and enthusiastic support for the ‘Forge’ venture.
Aligning closely, Vice President J.D. Vance galvanized attendees to reinvent the minerals economy. He portrayed these elements as vital as traditional energy, slamming fragile, regionally skewed chains that breed chaos and investment flight. Recounting oversupply shocks that tanked prices and idled projects, he rallied: ‘Nothing surpasses the tangibility of critical minerals.’
With collective GDP heft nearing two-thirds globally, the group can pivot markets decisively—’one team,’ as Vance put it. He tabled a preferential zone fortified against interference, featuring reference prices per production step, upheld by tariffs to curb dumping and shield producers.
Objectives include price equilibrium, capital influx, extended horizons, and emergency stockpiles. This coalition heralds a democratic counterweight to supply chokepoints, empowering transitions to sustainable tech and bolstering India’s stature in resource geopolitics.