India and the United States on Tuesday (May 26) signed a major Critical Minerals Framework agreement, a move both countries described as crucial for securing the future supply of materials needed for advanced technology, clean energy and defence manufacturing. The agreement was signed amid growing global concerns over China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector, especially rare earth elements used in semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, military systems and renewable energy infrastructure.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rubio-announces-quad-s-new-indo-pacific-maritime-surveillance-initiative-what-is-it-wion-decodes-1779781338805">Rubio announces QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative. What is it? WION Decodes</a><h2>India, US to build 'trusted networks'</h2>The agreement builds upon the discussions held earlier this year in Washington DC, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), an initiative designed to strengthen cooperation among trusted partners on mineral security.According to a statement from the US Embassy, the framework aims to build trusted networks for sourcing and processing strategic minerals while reducing dependence on single-country supply chains. The deal also focuses on protecting critical mineral markets from what both sides described as coercive market practices.<h2>What will happen under the rare earth minerals framework?</h2>Under the new framework, India and the US are expected to work together on financing, supply chain resilience, mineral processing technologies and rare earth management.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described the agreement as another sign of deepening ties between New Delhi and Washington. "It will strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, help us to collaborate on financing and with the effective management of critical minerals and rare earths".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-students-deserve-better-cockroach-janata-party-revives-petition-targeting-edu-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-neet-2026-paper-leak-1779774614724">'India’s students deserve better': Cockroach Janata Party revives petition targeting Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan</a>Calling the partnership increasingly important in a rapidly changing world, he added, "It is one more sign of how close our cooperation is in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities."<h2>Rubio highlights India's importance in US strategic planning</h2>Marco Rubio also stressed India’s growing importance in US strategic planning, particularly in the technology and manufacturing sectors. “I have spoken often during my time here over the last few days about the strategic alliance between the United States and India and how important that is for our national interest in the United States. And today is a tangible example of it,” Rubio said.

India and the US have signed a major critical minerals deal as both countries try to reduce dependence on China’s dominance over rare earth supply chains. The agreement could reshape everything from EV batteries and semiconductors to defence and clean energy manufacturing. Scroll down to read

India and the United States on Tuesday (May 26) signed a major Critical Minerals Framework agreement, a move both countries described as crucial for securing the future supply of materials needed for advanced technology, clean energy and defence manufacturing. The agreement was signed amid growing global concerns over China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector, especially rare earth elements used in semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, military systems and renewable energy infrastructure. Also read | Rubio announces QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative. What is it? WION Decodes India, US to build 'trusted networks' The agreement builds upon the discussions held earlier this year in Washington DC, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), an initiative designed to strengthen cooperation among trusted partners on mineral security. According to a statement from the US Embassy, the framework aims to build trusted networks for sourcing and processing strategic minerals while reducing dependence on single-country supply chains. The deal also focuses on protecting critical mineral markets from what both sides described as coercive market practices. What will happen under the rare earth minerals framework? Under the new framework, India and the US are expected to work together on financing, supply chain resilience, mineral processing technologies and rare earth management. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described the agreement as another sign of deepening ties between New Delhi and Washington. "It will strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, help us to collaborate on financing and with the effective management of critical minerals and rare earths". Also read | 'India’s students deserve better': Cockroach Janata Party revives petition targeting Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Calling the partnership increasingly important in a rapidly changing world, he added, "It is one more sign of how close our cooperation is in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities." Rubio highlights India's importance in US strategic planning Marco Rubio also stressed India’s growing importance in US strategic planning, particularly in the technology and manufacturing sectors. “I have spoken often during my time here over the last few days about the strategic alliance between the United States and India and how important that is for our national interest in the United States. And today is a tangible example of it,” Rubio said.

India and the US have signed a major critical minerals deal as both countries try to reduce dependence on China’s dominance over rare earth supply chains. The agreement could reshape everything from EV batteries and semiconductors to defence and clean energy manufacturing. Scroll down to read

India and US sign mega rare earth deal to break China’s critical minerals monopoly

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (May 26) announced that several initiatives were adopted at the QUAD foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. Among the initiatives adopted at the meeting was the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative. Stressing the importance of the QUAD coalition, Rubio noted that the QUAD nations make up a third of the world's GDP. "The stage today represented countries that collectively are about a third of the world's GDP, over almost 2 billion people, and not these aren't just countries that have economic reach, a third of the world's being 2 billion people, they are countries who share strong values, strong vibrant democracies, who also are committed to many of the same concepts with regards to economic development and have many aligned interests in those fields as well," he said. What is the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative? WION Decodes.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-students-deserve-better-cockroach-janata-party-revives-petition-targeting-edu-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-neet-2026-paper-leak-1779774614724">'India’s students deserve better': Cockroach Janata Party revives petition targeting Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan</a><h2>Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation Initiative</h2>The Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative, according to Rubio, is an initiative aimed at enhancing regional surveillance coordination among India, the US, Australia and Japan.It is designed to enhance real-time information sharing and secure critical global trade routes, track commercial shipping, and counter coercive manoeuvres in a region that accounts for about 60 per cent of global maritime trade. The real-time data sharing will provide regional authorities with the tools to efficiently crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy and illicit trafficking.The initiative acts as a strategic counterweight to growing geopolitical tensions and military posturing by allowing democracies in the region to collectively monitor and respond to maritime provocations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-unidentified-projectile-into-yellow-sea-amid-rising-regional-tensions-1779773087136">North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’ into the Yellow Sea amid rising regional tensions</a><h2>Importance of Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation Initiative</h2>"I'm very happy today that as a result of the work that our teams have been doing leading up to this conversation, we have real concrete achievables that we can announce to our respective countries and to the world.""On the issue of maritime security, there are two big announcements. The first is the launch of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative, which is going to leverage each of our countries' maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific to enhance information sharing. Related to that is also the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which provides and can provide near-real-time commercial maritime domain awareness data to countries throughout the Indo-Pacific," he added.

The QUAD nations have unveiled a major new Indo-Pacific maritime initiative aimed at tracking ships, sharing real-time surveillance data and countering threats across one of the world’s busiest trade regions.

Why is this move significant? Scroll down to find out.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (May 26) announced that several initiatives were adopted at the QUAD foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. Among the initiatives adopted at the meeting was the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative. Stressing the importance of the QUAD coalition, Rubio noted that the QUAD nations make up a third of the world's GDP. "The stage today represented countries that collectively are about a third of the world's GDP, over almost 2 billion people, and not these aren't just countries that have economic reach, a third of the world's being 2 billion people, they are countries who share strong values, strong vibrant democracies, who also are committed to many of the same concepts with regards to economic development and have many aligned interests in those fields as well," he said. What is the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative? WION Decodes. Also read | 'India’s students deserve better': Cockroach Janata Party revives petition targeting Edu Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation Initiative The Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation initiative, according to Rubio, is an initiative aimed at enhancing regional surveillance coordination among India, the US, Australia and Japan. It is designed to enhance real-time information sharing and secure critical global trade routes, track commercial shipping, and counter coercive manoeuvres in a region that accounts for about 60 per cent of global maritime trade. The real-time data sharing will provide regional authorities with the tools to efficiently crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy and illicit trafficking. The initiative acts as a strategic counterweight to growing geopolitical tensions and military posturing by allowing democracies in the region to collectively monitor and respond to maritime provocations. Also read | North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’ into the Yellow Sea amid rising regional tensions Importance of Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Co-operation Initiative "I'm very happy today that as a result of the work that our teams have been doing leading up to this conversation, we have real concrete achievables that we can announce to our respective countries and to the world." "On the issue of maritime security, there are two big announcements. The first is the launch of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative, which is going to leverage each of our countries' maritime surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific to enhance information sharing. Related to that is also the expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which provides and can provide near-real-time commercial maritime domain awareness data to countries throughout the Indo-Pacific," he added.

The QUAD nations have unveiled a major new Indo-Pacific maritime initiative aimed at tracking ships, sharing real-time surveillance data and countering threats across one of the world’s busiest trade regions.Why is this move significant? Scroll down to find out.

Rubio announces QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative. What is it? WION Decodes

The Minister of External Affairs of India, S. Jaishankar, said on Tuesday (May 26) that in the coming days, the Indo-Pacific will become even more important to the world. Addressing a press conference after the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, Jaishankar said that the discussions were primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific and that the maritime domain has seen a steady expansion of collaboration.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | At Quad Foreign Ministers&#39; meet in Delhi, Foreign Minister of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi says, &quot;This Quad meeting signifies the firm message to the world that Quad will strongly promote cooperation to realise free and open Indo-Pacific...The Indo-Pacific nations should… <a href="https://t.co/zbLX41Lurl">pic.twitter.com/zbLX41Lurl</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2059125266354720974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We spent some time on the question of safe and unimpeded maritime commerce, and reaffirmed the significance of scrupulously observing international law,” the Indian minister added. The ministers also devoted their time to discussing the threat of terrorism. “Nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves," said Jaishankar.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the Indo-Pacific region is facing acute economic stress. “We recognise the efforts of Secretary Rubio towards a diplomatic resolution to ensure that the freedom of navigation is restored," she said.<h2>'Countries that are about a 3rd of world's GDP'</h2>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Quad as a grouping representing “about a third of the world’s GDP” and nearly two billion people, as the four Indo-Pacific democracies unveiled a series of initiatives on maritime security, port infrastructure and critical minerals cooperation. Speaking after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi hosted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Rubio said the Quad was evolving into an action-oriented partnership focused on “real concrete achievables”.&nbsp;&nbsp;He announced the launch of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative to strengthen information sharing and expand maritime domain awareness capabilities across the region. Rubio also confirmed plans for a Quad-backed port infrastructure project in Fiji to address insufficient port capacity in Pacific Island nations, marking the first such joint initiative by the grouping.&nbsp;On economic security, Rubio unveiled the Quad Critical Minerals Framework aimed at coordinating investments, strengthening mining and processing capabilities, and securing supply chains. Stressing the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, he noted that nearly 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the region and said the Quad’s collective agenda had become even more relevant amid recent global developments.<h2>‘There must be zero tolerance for terrorism’</h2>Jaishankar further said that the four maritime democracies exchanged views on deepening cooperation in surveillance, logistics networks, undersea cables, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as maritime domain awareness. He stressed the importance of “safe and unimpeded maritime commerce” and called for strict observance of international law. Highlighting the Quad nations as market economies, Jaishankar said discussions also centred on strengthening supply chains, promoting trusted technologies and enhancing production capacities amid ongoing concerns over energy and fertiliser availability.&nbsp;&nbsp;He reiterated the Quad’s “zero tolerance” approach towards terrorism, asserting that countries facing terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves. Jaishankar added that the Indo-Pacific would become increasingly central to global economic activity, energy trade and maritime commerce in the coming years, which would correspondingly expand the responsibilities of the Quad grouping. &nbsp;

At the Quad meeting, India's S. Jaishankar emphasised Indo-Pacific importance, maritime law, and self-defense against terrorism, while Australia's Penny Wong noted regional economic stress and supported freedom of navigation efforts.

The Minister of External Affairs of India, S. Jaishankar, said on Tuesday (May 26) that in the coming days, the Indo-Pacific will become even more important to the world. Addressing a press conference after the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting, Jaishankar said that the discussions were primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific and that the maritime domain has seen a steady expansion of collaboration.

At the Quad meeting, India's S. Jaishankar emphasised Indo-Pacific importance, maritime law, and self-defence against terrorism, while Australia's Penny Wong noted regional economic stress and supported freedom of navigation efforts.

Quad Foreign Ministers meeting: From terrorism to GDP - here's what ministers said in joint statement

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India and US sign mega rare earth deal to break China’s critical minerals monopoly

What is QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative? WION Decodes

Indo-Pacific will become more important to world in coming days: Jaishankar