EAM Jaishankar on US visit to hold critical minerals talks
Focus on securing supply chains vital to clean energy, defence
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a visit to the US from February 2 to 4 to participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as India sharpens its strategic focus on securing supply chains vital to clean energy, defence and advanced technologies.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the ministerial, to be held in Washington DC, will focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, supporting clean energy transitions and deepening strategic cooperation in critical minerals — a domain that has emerged as a key geopolitical and economic priority amid global disruptions and rising demand.
During the visit, Jaishankar is also expected to hold meetings with senior members of the US administration, underscoring the growing convergence between India and the US on de-risking critical mineral supply chains and reducing over-dependence on dominant suppliers, particularly China.
India’s participation comes close on the heels of the Union Budget’s strong policy push for critical minerals and rare earths.
The Budget announced customs duty exemptions on capital goods required for processing critical minerals, aimed at accelerating domestic value addition in sectors such as electric mobility, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing.
The government has also moved to incentivise prospecting and exploration by allowing tax deductions on exploration expenditure for select critical minerals, while rolling out fresh support for rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing — a segment dominated globally by China and central to electric vehicles, wind turbines and defence platforms.
Last month, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had attended a similar Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, where participants discussed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and shared plans to build resilient, diversified sourcing networks.
Officials see Jaishankar’s visit as part of a broader diplomatic effort to align India’s domestic policy measures with international partnerships, positioning the country as a credible hub for critical mineral processing and manufacturing as global trade fragments and strategic competition intensifies.
