Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, who is currently on an official visit to the United States, is holding a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening India–US cooperation in key strategic sectors. As part of this visit, Vaishnav participated in an important Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Sharing details of the meeting, the Union Minister said the discussions focused on strengthening global supply chains for critical minerals. He underlined that for countries like India—where manufacturing, particularly electronics manufacturing, is expanding rapidly—a secure and resilient supply chain for critical minerals is essential. Vaishnav noted that this issue is not only important for India but for all nations looking to build sustainable and advanced manufacturing ecosystems.

During the meeting, ministers and representatives from various countries exchanged experiences and outlined the steps they are taking to ensure long-term, sustainable access to high-quality critical minerals, including rare earth elements. Vaishnav said that technology sharing was a key part of the discussions, along with cooperation in recycling and joint research. He described the talks as very positive, with a strong emphasis on improving both the quality and availability of critical minerals globally.

Securing critical and rare earth minerals has emerged as a top priority for the administration of US President Donald Trump. The US government has repeatedly expressed concerns that reliance on mineral production controlled by hostile foreign powers could pose serious risks to national and economic security. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China currently dominates the refining of most key minerals—such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements—with an average global market share of around 70 percent.

Earlier during his visit, Ashwini Vaishnav also met Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and a close aide to President Trump. Kratsios later shared details of the meeting on social media, stating that discussions were held with Vaishnav and India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra regarding the upcoming AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India. He added that further meetings are planned in Delhi next month.