Current Affairs - International - Discussion

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.