Current Affairs - International

India and the United States signed a framework agreement in New Delhi to strengthen cooperation in the supply of critical minerals and rare earths. The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It focuses on areas such as mining, processing, recycling of minerals, development of diversified supply chains, financing collaboration, and effective management of rare earths scrap. The framework builds upon commitments made in the India-U.S. Joint Statement of February 2025 and supports broader strategic initiatives such as Pax Silica, FORGE, and the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership, enhancing bilateral cooperation in critical sectors.

The Indian Air Force transported the sacred relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana to Mongolia using its IL-76 strategic airlift aircraft, popularly known as Gajraj. These relics belong to the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha and hold immense significance in Buddhist traditions. The initiative was undertaken to strengthen cultural and spiritual ties between India and Mongolia while supporting India’s broader cultural diplomacy and global outreach efforts. Such exchanges help promote shared heritage, deepen people-to-people connections, and reinforce historical links between Buddhist communities across nations. Mongolia, a landlocked country between Russia and China, has a strong Buddhist cultural heritage.

The 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi on May 26, 2026, bringing together India, Australia, Japan, and the United States to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting focused on key areas such as maritime security, critical technologies, infrastructure development, and economic resilience. A major outcome was the launch of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) to improve maritime domain awareness, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region. The discussions also covered defence interoperability exercises, undersea cable connectivity for Pacific Island nations, and investments in energy and communication technologies like 6G and Open RAN. The Quad continues to promote a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

Russia, through its state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has been appointed as the lead builder for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant under a $16.5 billion agreement signed on May 28, 2026. The project aims to address Kazakhstan’s growing energy deficit and will be located in Ulken village near Lake Balkhash. It includes the installation of two VVER-1200 reactors, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and the first reactor targeted for completion by 2034. The Russian government will also provide export credit to support financing. This collaboration strengthens Russia’s role in global nuclear energy development and highlights expanding energy cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan.

NASA unveiled a $20 billion strategic roadmap on May 27, 2026, aimed at establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon through a structured three-phase plan. The initiative includes technology testing and Lunar Terrain Vehicle deployment in Phase 1 (2026–2028), infrastructure development such as a lunar power grid in Phase 2 (2029–2032), and long-term sustained lunar operations from Phase 3 onwards. The plan also includes multiple missions like Moon Base-I, Moon Base-II, and Moon Base-III, involving international partners such as ESA and the Korean Space Agency. NASA, established in 1958 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., continues its Artemis program to return humans to the lunar surface and advance deep space exploration.