Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 US˨INDIA May 29, 2026 F act Sheet, May 26, 2026, Office of the Spokesper- son, Department of State: The text of the following statement was released by the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States of America on the occasion of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, India. “The United States, Japan, Australia, and India (the “Quad partners”) intend to support the development of secure critical minerals supply chains, which are essential for advanced technologies, economic growth, and the resilience of our industrial bases. Through the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, Quad partners intend to work together to use economic policy tools and co- ordinated investment to accelerate the development of diversified and fair critical mineral markets and support the supply of critical minerals that are crucial to our region’s economic growth and security. This framework sets out key areas for cooperation among the Quad partners on critical minerals supply chains giving due regard for each partner’s domestic poli- cies and priorities. I. Investment and Project Development Quad partners intend to mobilize up to $20 billion in government and private sector support through new and existing efforts to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, including in mining, processing, and recycling, through actions such as: Identifying projects with a Quad nexus, such as those located in Quad partner countries, operated by compa- nies headquartered in Quad partner countries, or sup- plying Quad markets, that address critical mineral supply chain gaps; Supporting strategic critical minerals projects includ- ing through export credit agencies, development finance institutions, mobilization of private capital, or other public supporting tools, such as guarantees, loans, equity participation, insurance, subsidies, and offtake or other commercial arrangements, as appropriate; and Exploring new mechanisms to help mobilize private capital and strengthen critical minerals supply chains in Quad partner countries and regionally. II. Regulatory Alignment and Overall Environment Quad partners aim to improve the overall environment for critical minerals development, as appropriate and in accordance with their respective domestic laws including through actions such as: Sharing, where appropriate, information on good practices and technical approaches to permitting, licensing, and regulatory processes, including measures to accelerate or streamline permitting timelines and processes; Developing or strengthening, consistent with domestic law, tools and authorities to review and, as appropri- ate, address transactions involving critical minerals that threaten national security; Cooperating on technology development and capac- ity building related to geological mapping and resource assessment; and Considering the feasibility of coordinated measures to address non-market policies and unfair trade practices, such as high standards marketplaces, price mechanisms, or other measures. III. Recycling and Recovery of Critical Minerals Quad partners intend to work together to improve the recovery and use of critical minerals from e waste and other scrap materials to enhance the supply chain and promote recycling of contained critical minerals within Quad partner and like-minded countries, as appropriate, including through actions such as: Encouraging and supporting the facilitation of investment in critical minerals recycling technologies, processes, and collection networks within Quad partner countries in collaboration with the private sector; Collaborating to enhance recovery of critical minerals, such as through building or facilitating the creation of robust collection and recycling processes; Promoting innovation in critical minerals recovery from, and recycling of, e waste and scrap materials among Quad partners; and Exploring cooperation to streamline export and import procedures for relevant waste and scrap among Quad partners, in line with the domestic laws and regulations, and international obligations, as appropriate, of each partner.” T he 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 be- tween the two nations to ensure that the founda- tional 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 re- lated 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 op- portunities.” 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), inWashington, D.C., an initiative India joined. It gained momentum later that month when India signed onto Pax Silica. Rubio recog- nized 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 le- verage 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 im- portant document and an important agreement, I think it brings a tangible example of the strategic partnership between the United States and India,” Rubio added. US Department of State By a StaffWriter 2026 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting In New Delhi US-India Sign Critical Minerals Framework Agreement In New Delhi PHOTO:FACEBOOK @INDIA.USEMBASSY PHOTO:US EMBASSY IN INDIA Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting May 26, 2026, delivers strong, concrete results. From enhanced maritime security to new initiatives on maritime security, port infrastructure, critical minerals, and energy resilience – here are the top deliverables from this round of Quad cooperation. 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.