US 'Project Vault' in Pakistan's Reko Diq: A $1.3 Billion Investment Amidst Geopolitical Shifts

• The US launched 'Project Vault', a $12 billion initiative to create its first strategic reserve of critical minerals, with Pakistan playing a key role.
• A $1.3 billion investment from Project Vault is directed towards Pakistan’s Reko Diq mines in Balochistan, marking its only international component.
• Reko Diq holds vast untapped copper and gold deposits, estimated at 5.9 billion tonnes of ore and 41.5 million ounces of gold.
• The initiative aims to challenge China's dominance in rare earths and secure critical minerals for US industries amidst rising global demand and supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Despite security challenges in Balochistan, the investment could be a significant economic boost for Pakistan, which has faced numerous IMF bailouts.