By Kimberley Kao and Fabiana Negrin Ochoa
The U.S. has inked a rare-earths and strategic minerals agreement with India to deepen collaboration on the materials that power everything from cars to artificial intelligence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the framework agreement during a visit to India, calling it a "tangible example" of the partnership between the two sides.
"We are two countries that have strategic interests in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy," Rubio said Tuesday.
The pact came on the sidelines of talks between Rubio and the foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan--a grouping known as the "quad" that focuses on a free and open Indo-Pacific.
According to India's minister of external affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the deliberations touched on current energy and fertilizer availability, as well as that of critical minerals and resources.
The gathering of the four officials, which collectively represent economies comprising about a third of global gross domestic product, was the first time it took place this year, and the third since Rubio took office.
The diplomats unveiled initiatives on maritime and energy security, a port infrastructure project and continued work on critical minerals.
Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, said the group recognizes the importance of maintaining the principle of freedom of navigation and opposition to any tolling propositions.
That comes as strategic circumstances in the Indo-Pacific are deteriorating, and the region is facing acute economic stress, she said.
"We know the world is more unpredictable, we know economic volatility is increasing, and we know the consequences for our region of the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz and what that means for our energy security, our economies and our people," said Wong.
Write to Kimberley Kao at kimberley.kao@wsj.com and Fabiana Negrin Ochoa at fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 26, 2026 04:58 ET (08:58 GMT)
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