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Jaishankar Meets Canadian, Peruvian FMs at Critical Minerals Summit in DC

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with his Canadian and Peruvian counterparts on the sidelines of the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC. He emphasized the need for structured international cooperation to de-risk global critical mineral supply chains, highlighting India's own initiatives like the National Critical Minerals Mission. The ministerial, convening over 50 countries, aims to diversify supply chains for elements like lithium and cobalt, reducing overreliance on China. The meetings precede a planned visit to India by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in March, where deals on minerals and energy are expected.

Key Points: Jaishankar at Critical Minerals Meet: Bilateral Talks & De-Risking Supply

  • Bilateral talks with Canada & Peru
  • Push to de-risk mineral supply chains
  • Over 50 nations at Washington ministerial
  • India's National Critical Minerals Mission
  • Canadian PM's upcoming India visit
2 min read

EAM Jaishankar discusses bilateral cooperation with Canadian FM at Critical Minerals Ministerial

EAM Jaishankar meets Canadian FM Anita Anand, Peruvian FM Hugo de Zela in Washington. Discusses advancing bilateral ties & de-risking global critical mineral supply chains.

"Underlined challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply chains through structured international cooperation. - S Jaishankar"

Washington, DC, February 5

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with key counterparts, including Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela, on the sidelines of the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said he felt "great" to meet his Canadian counterpart and discuss advancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

"Great to see FM Anita Anand of Canada today. Talked about taking our ties forward," the EAM stated in his post.

He also met with Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela of Peru, noting that both sides agreed to deepen cooperation.

"With Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela of Peru. Agreed to deepen our cooperation," Jaishankar wrote in a separate post on X.

His meetings come amid the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC on Wednesday, during which the EAM called for structured international cooperation to "de-risk" critical mineral supply chains, noting that "excessive concentration" poses a major global risk.

In another post on X, Jaishankar said, "Spoke at the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC today. Underlined challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply chains through structured international cooperation. Highlighted India's efforts towards greater resilience through initiatives including National Critical Minerals Mission, Rare Earth Corridors and responsible commerce. Conveyed India's support to the FORGE initiative on critical minerals."

Ahead of the ministerial, Jaishankar shared photos of his meetings with the Netherlands FM David van Weel, Italian FM Antonio Tajani, Mohamad Haji Hasan of Malaysia, Bahrain FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and FM Battsetseg Batmunkh of Mongolia, among others.

The event, convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, brought together delegations from over 50 countries, and the European Union is being viewed as a landmark moment in global supply chain diplomacy.

A primary goal of the ministerial is to diversify supply chains for rare earth elements and critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, to reduce global overreliance on China, which currently dominates processing and mining.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit India in the first week of March, and his visit is likely to see the signing of deals on uranium, energy, minerals, and Artificial Intelligence.

Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said there would also be a key focus on trade during PM Carney's visit.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
"De-risking" is the key word here. We cannot put all our eggs in one basket, especially with China. Hope the National Critical Minerals Mission gets the push it needs. Good work by EAM.
R
Rohit P
Meeting with Canada is interesting. Let's hope the talks are productive and lead to concrete outcomes, not just statements. We need those uranium and AI deals finalized during the PM's visit.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable sector, securing critical minerals is the foundation. Partnerships with countries like Canada and Peru are strategic. The FORGE initiative support is a smart move.
V
Vikram M
While the intent is good, I hope our agreements have strong clauses to protect our interests. Sometimes we are too eager in diplomacy and compromise on long-term benefits. Just a thought.
K
Karthik V
Jaishankar Sir is doing excellent work on the global stage. Meeting so many FMs and putting India's point forward clearly. The Rare Earth Corridors plan sounds promising for job creation too.

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