US-India Sign Critical Minerals Framework Agreement In New Delhi

Ambassador Sergio Gor and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for a Strategic Critical Minerals Cooperation Framework signing ceremony at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. PHOTO: US Embassy in India

The United States and India signed an important agreement on critical minerals cooperation May 26, 2026 in New Delhi, at a meeting of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and India’s External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar.

The bilateral Critical Minerals Framework, marks a milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations to ensure that the foundational elements required for advanced technology and energy are available within trusted networks, the US noted in a news release on the agreement.

This Framework sets a path toward reliable and resilient mineral supply chains, reinforcing key objectives set established by President Trump and Prime Minster Modi in the United States-India Joint Leaders’ Statement, a news release added.

“… we are today signing a bilateral India-U.S. framework on securing of supply, of mining and processing of critical minerals and rare-earths,” noted EAM Jaishankar. “This is something which we have also discussed today at the Quad meeting. And whether we’re doing it bilaterally, whether we’re doing it as a Quad format, or in fact as a larger gathering of like-minded nations, it is clearly something very timely, something very important, something very critical,” he added.

The Framework aims to “deepen our cooperation across the entire critical minerals and rare-earth supply chain, including mining, processing, recycling, and related investments,” Jaishankar explained emphasizing it would strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains.

“It will help us to collaborate in financing and in the effective management of critical minerals and rare-earths (inaudible). So I think it’s a very important initiative. I’m very glad, Secretary, that you’re involved with it, we could finalize it and sign it. It’s one more sign of how close our cooperation is and how important it is today in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities.”

At the signing event, Rubio said, “I’ve spoken often during my time here over the last few days about the strategic alliance between the United States and India and how important that is for our national interest in the United States, and today is a tangible example of it.”

He went on to add, “We are two countries who have a strategic interest in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy. And today’s a tangible result of that; it’s tangible evidence of why it is we are strategic allies. This is a very important step.”

Earlier this year on Feb. 4, the US launched the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), in Washington, D.C., an initiative India joined. It gained momentum later that month when India signed onto Pax Silica. Rubio recognized India was one of the first and early member and signatories.

“… and now today, because we both have a strategic and shared interest in the fact that vibrant innovation economies such as ours cannot afford to leave the foundational materials of these industries vulnerable to single-source monopolies that could deny us these things – not just in a time of conflict but as a leverage point contrary to our sovereign national interests,” Rubio said.

“So it’s a pleasure to be here today, and I’m glad we were able to sign this because, in addition to being an important document and an important agreement, I think it brings a tangible example of the strategic partnership between the United States and India,” Rubio added.