WATCH: U.S. & 50 Nations Form "Mineral Alliance" to Counter China's Dominance скачать в хорошем качестве

WATCH: U.S. & 50 Nations Form "Mineral Alliance" to Counter China's Dominance

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial today, February 4, 2026, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The summit, which brought together delegations from over 50 countries, focused on securing global supply chains for minerals essential to national security and the energy transition, specifically aiming to reduce reliance on China-dominated networks. The Agenda and Major Announcements Project Vault: The meeting follows the recent announcement of "Project Vault," a $12 billion U.S. strategic critical minerals reserve. This includes a landmark $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank—the largest in its history—and $1.67 billion in private capital. Framework Agreement: The State Department introduced a nonbinding but strategic Framework Agreement on Cooperation on Critical Minerals Sourcing and Processing. It aims to accelerate private investment, streamline permitting for mining, and establish price floors to protect domestic producers from unfair trade practices. Pax Silica Expansion: The U.S. used the summit to build momentum for the Pax Silica Declaration (unveiled in Dec 2025), a strategic initiative focused on critical minerals and semiconductor technology. Key Participants Delegations from over 50 nations attended, reflecting a "minilateral" approach to economic security. Notable attendees included: India: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended, following the announcement of a major India-U.S. trade deal that lowered tariffs on Indian goods to 18%. South Korea: Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (referred to in some reports as Cho Hyun) met with Rubio to discuss increasing Korean investment in U.S. industries. Mineral-Rich Partners: Senior officials from Australia, Canada, the DRC, Kenya, Guinea, and Japan were present to coordinate on mining and processing nodes. Leadership Roles Vice President J.D. Vance delivered the keynote address, framing critical minerals as a "macro-strategic problem" essential for both defense and AI development. Secretary Marco Rubio chaired the ministerial, hosting a press availability and the "family photo" with heads of delegation. Jacob Helberg (Under Secretary for Economic Affairs) and David Copley (Senior Director for Global Supply Chains) also provided opening remarks, emphasizing a "whole-of-supply-chain" approach. Key Highlights from the Opening Remarks Geopolitics of Supply: Rubio emphasized that critical minerals have shifted from a sectoral concern to a "macro-strategic problem." He noted that "geography and geopolitics are finally outweighing geology" in determining economic security. The Pax Silica Alignment: The Secretary leveraged the Pax Silica group (established in Dec 2025) as a framework for this cooperation, welcoming new engagement from partners like India. Market Intervention: Rubio advocated for moving beyond "market self-correction" and suggested that democracies must align public policy with private capital to build resilient value chains, even if it leads to higher short-term costs. Strategic Stockpiling: The remarks aligned with President Trump's recent announcement of Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic critical minerals reserve designed to protect against supply disruptions. Bilateral Context (India-US) Ahead of the ministerial, Rubio met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. They formally welcomed the new India-US trade deal, which reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, and discussed formalizing cooperation on mineral exploration and processing. Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @defensenow   Defense Now | February 2026    • DN February 2026   Members-only videos    • Members-only videos   Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio delivers opening remarks at the Critical Minerals Ministerial at the Department of State Film Credits: U.S. Department of State