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Jaishankar Heads to US for Key Minerals Meet Amid Defence Talks

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United States next week. His visit coincides with the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on securing global supply chains. This follows recent high-level meetings on finance and defence, including talks between a US Congressional delegation and India's Defence Secretary. The discussions underscore deepening bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors like minerals and defence under a new 10-year framework.

Key Points: Jaishankar US Visit: Critical Minerals, Defence Partnership

  • Jaishankar US visit next week
  • Inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on Feb 4
  • Focus on secure supply chains for energy transition
  • High-level defence talks conclude new partnership framework
  • India represented by Ashwini Vaishnaw at finance meet
2 min read

EAM Jaishankar to visit US next week

EAM S Jaishankar visits US for Critical Minerals Ministerial as defence talks advance bilateral partnership under new 10-year framework.

"Strengthening critical mineral supply chains... is vital to America's economic and national security - US State Department"

New Delhi, January 28

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United States next week, sources said on Wednesday.

The US Department of State had said earlier this month that the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, to be held on February 4 by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will bring together partners from across the globe to strengthen cooperation on critical mineral supply chains.

The State Department said in a post on X that the ministerial will focus on enhancing international collaboration to secure reliable, resilient critical mineral supply chains, which are essential to the US's economic and national security, technological leadership, and energy transition.

"On February 4, Secretary Rubio will welcome partners from across the globe to the State Department for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial. Strengthening critical mineral supply chains with our international partners is vital to America's economic and national security, technological leadership, and a resilient energy future," the State Department stated in its post.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened a high-level Finance Ministerial in Washington earlier this month to discuss ways to secure and diversify global supply chains for critical minerals, with a particular focus on rare-earth elements, amid growing concerns about supply vulnerabilities.

According to a release by the US Department of the Treasury, the meeting brought together finance ministers and senior officials from key economies, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

India was represented by Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Meanwhile, a United States Congressional delegation led by Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Mike Rogers, along with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, held discussions with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, centred on strengthening defence cooperation under the recently concluded 10-year Major Defence Partnership Framework Agreement.

The meeting, held on January 27, featured wide-ranging discussions on deepening defence industry collaboration and advancing bilateral military ties, according to the Ministry of Defence.

"US Congressional Delegation led by Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Mike Rogers met Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh today. They had wide ranging discussions including the recently concluded 10-year Major Defence Partnership Framework Agreement with emphasis on strengthening cooperation in the field of defence industry," the Ministry of Defence said in a post on X.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hope the discussions also focus on technology transfer and building domestic processing capabilities. We have minerals, but need the tech to refine them. 🇮🇳 Let's not just be a supplier, but a value-adder in the global chain.
R
Rohit P
Defence partnership and critical minerals... both threads are connected. Strong ties with the US are important, but we must walk a careful line. Our foreign policy should remain balanced and serve our national interest first. Jaishankar Sir is the right person for this.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable sector, this is welcome news. Reliable access to lithium, cobalt, etc., is the backbone of our EV and battery storage plans. International collaboration is key, but domestic policy support is equally vital.
V
Vikram M
The 10-year defence framework is a big deal. Hoping for more joint development projects rather than just buyer-seller deals. We need to build our own MIC (Military Industrial Complex) with such partnerships.
K
Karthik V
While engaging with the US is necessary, I hope our diplomacy also vigorously pursues ties with resource-rich countries in Africa and South America. Diversification is the mantra. Putting all eggs in one basket, even a powerful one, is risky for a nation of our size and aspirations.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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