US Boosts Critical Minerals Collaboration with 54 Nations, Including India, to Counter China

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio chaired the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, bringing together over 50 countries.
• The initiative aims to secure and diversify global critical mineral supply chains, reducing reliance on China's dominance in rare-earth mining and processing.
• India, represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, was among the 54 countries and the European Union participating in the talks.
• US Vice President JD Vance proposed a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals, and President Donald Trump announced Project Vault, a $12 billion supply chain security initiative.
• Jaishankar and Rubio discussed formalizing bilateral collaboration in critical minerals, including exploration, mining, and processing, and expanding cooperation through the Quad grouping.