India, US Sign Critical Minerals Pact as Quad Unveils $20 Billion Supply Chain Plan
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 4
India, US Sign Critical Minerals Pact as Quad Unveils $20 Billion Supply Chain Plan
3 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jun 4
Summary
May 26’s India-US framework agreement targets critical minerals and rare earths, covering mining and processing as both countries seek more secure long-term supplies.
China’s export controls on rare earths and strategic metals drove the deal, which the US embassy said would help shield sensitive supply chains from coercive market practices and single-source monopolies.
Delhi signed the pact during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit, with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar calling it timely and critical and Rubio stressing its strategic importance.
A $20 billion Quad critical minerals framework announced in Delhi soon after broadens that push, though analysts say India can aid an alternative supply chain without displacing China anytime soon.
How will the US-India alliance overcome China’s deep-rooted control over critical mineral prices and processing?
Beyond government funds, what will make high-risk mineral projects in allied nations truly investable for private capital?
Will this new mineral race for EVs and AI simply replace the world's dependency on oil with another?
Securing the Future: Quad’s $200–300 Billion Critical Minerals Initiative and India’s Pivotal Role
Overview
In May 2026, the Quad nations marked a major shift in global critical minerals strategy by unveiling a comprehensive initiative to secure vital supply chains. This move followed a pivotal meeting of Quad foreign ministers in New Delhi, where they formally agreed on the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework. The framework commits the Quad countries to enhance the environment for critical minerals development, aiming to strengthen the resilience and diversity of these essential supply chains. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, signaling a new era of international cooperation for critical mineral security.