India's Strategic Move: Strengthening Critical Mineral Supply Chains at US Ministerial Meeting

India's Commitment to Critical Minerals

New York/Washington: India has reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing and securing supply chains for critical minerals during a significant ministerial meeting led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, represented India at the Finance Ministerial focused on securing critical minerals supply chains, which took place on Monday.

The meeting, held at the US Treasury, aimed to explore strategies for securing and diversifying supply chains for essential minerals, particularly rare earth elements.

In a post on X, Vaishnaw stated, “Participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting hosted by Treasury Secretary @SecScottBessent. Strengthening critical mineral supply chains is vital to enhancing the resilience of India’s manufacturing capabilities and rapidly growing electronics sector.”

Arriving in Washington DC on Sunday, Vaishnaw emphasized that secure critical mineral supply chains are crucial for India's vision of Viksit Bharat.

The Indian Embassy in Washington DC noted that Vaishnaw underscored India’s strong commitment to fortifying critical mineral supply chains, which are essential for economic growth, resilient manufacturing, and achieving Viksit Bharat.

Bessent expressed satisfaction at the meeting, highlighting a collective eagerness to swiftly tackle vulnerabilities in critical minerals supply chains. He expressed optimism that nations would prioritize prudent derisking over decoupling and recognize the urgency for decisive actions to address current deficiencies.

The US Department of Treasury released a statement detailing the actions and investments already undertaken by the United States, along with future plans to establish resilient, secure, and diversified critical minerals supply chains.

Acknowledging the concentration and vulnerability of these supply chains to disruptions, the Secretary urged participants to enhance their supply chain resilience and thanked them for their readiness to collaborate towards effective solutions.

Finance Ministers from various nations attended the meeting, including Vaishnaw, Treasurer of Australia Jim Chalmers, Canada’s Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne, European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis, and others.

Additionally, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other key figures presented on critical focus areas, according to the Department.

Vaishnaw also met with Michael Kratsios, Assistant to President Trump and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, alongside Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, to discuss the upcoming AI Impact Summit in India, scheduled for next month in Delhi.

The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 will take place on February 19-20, focusing on the themes of ‘People, Planet, and Progress.’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this summit at the France AI Action Summit, marking it as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.

The Indian Embassy in Washington DC expressed its honor in welcoming Vaishnaw and hearing his insights on India's priorities in technology and manufacturing sectors.