Warning that critical mineral supply chains are being used for political coercion, the United States (US) gathered representatives from 54 countries and the European Commission to reform the global strategic minerals and rare earths market. The US revealed the signing of 11 new bilateral critical minerals agreements with countries like Argentina, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. These agreements aim to address pricing issues, boost development, ensure fair markets, strengthen supply chains, and enhance financing access.
At the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other US officials, hosted ministers from 43 countries across various regions. The meeting, attended by India and major producers like Australia and Canada, emphasized the importance of critical minerals in advancing technologies such as AI and robotics. The US stressed the need for diversified and secure supply chains to prevent market vulnerabilities to political manipulation.
The US also introduced the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) to enhance critical mineral supply chain security. FORGE, succeeding the Minerals Security Partnership, will be led by South Korea and focus on policy coordination and project-level cooperation. The US government highlighted the role of private sector initiatives like Pax Silica in investing across the critical mineral supply chain, from mining to end-use applications.
In efforts to address supply chain challenges, the US facilitated discussions between governments and private companies, including a memorandum of understanding signing between Glencore and the U.S.-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium. This agreement aims to promote U.S. investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mining sector for a reliable supply of copper and cobalt. The US government has mobilized over $30 billion in support for critical mineral projects in the past six months, attracting significant private capital investments.
