Post-China curbs, India joins US-G7 push to secure rare earths for ‘Viksit Bharat’ technologies

India has joined high-level discussions with the US and G7 nations on securing critical minerals, marking a strategic move to reduce dependence on China-dominated supply chains. The talks come amid fresh export curbs by Beijing and underscore India’s push to secure rare earths essential for technology, defence, and its ‘Viksit Bharat’ ambitions.

India has stepped into high-level global discussions on critical minerals in Washington, signalling a deeper alignment with the United States and G7 nations as major economies seek to reduce their dependence on China-dominated supply chains. The talks come amid growing concerns over China’s tightening control over rare earths and other strategic minerals vital for technology, defence, and clean energy transitions.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Saturday that India, Australia and a few other countries would participate in the discussions. The Group of Seven comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union. The issue of critical minerals has emerged as a central concern for these economies, particularly after Beijing’s recent export restrictions.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw arrived in Washington, DC, on Sunday to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting hosted by Bessent. The meeting is being held alongside a gathering of G7 finance ministers.

In a social media post, Vaishnaw underlined the strategic importance of the discussions. “Arrived in Washington, DC. Will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting tomorrow. Secure critical mineral supply chains are vital for our goal of Viksit Bharat,” he said.

The timing of the meeting is significant. It comes just days after reports that China began restricting exports of rare earths and high-powered magnets to Japanese companies. Beijing has also reportedly banned exports of dual-use items to the Japanese military, adding to fears that China is increasingly using its dominance in critical minerals as a geopolitical tool.

India’s participation reflects a broader shift in its global engagement on technology and supply chain resilience. While New Delhi is a key member of the Quad grouping alongside the US, Japan and Australia, it is now stepping into a wider role beyond that framework. India is set to join the US-led Pax Silica initiative ahead of an artificial intelligence summit it plans to host. Although India is a Quad partner, it was not originally part of Pax Silica, which currently includes the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the UK, Israel, the UAE and Australia.

According to a report by The Economic Times, India will also participate in another US meeting focused on critical minerals, further deepening cooperation in this area.

Bessent has previously said he has been pushing for a focused G7 discussion on critical minerals since the leaders’ summit last summer. He described the effort as a response to what he termed “China’s weaponisation of supply chains.” G7 finance ministers had already held a virtual meeting on the issue in December, reflecting the urgency around securing alternative sources and refining capacity.

Speaking earlier to Reuters, Bessent confirmed that India had been invited to attend the meeting, though at the time it was unclear whether New Delhi had accepted the invitation. It also remains unclear which other non-G7 countries were invited.

China’s dominance over critical minerals remains a major concern for Western economies and their partners. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China is the world’s leading refiner of most major critical minerals, including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. On average, China controls around 70 per cent of global refining capacity.

The IEA has also highlighted China’s strong grip on downstream materials such as manganese sulphate and phosphoric acid, both of which are essential for battery production and advanced manufacturing. These materials are crucial for a wide range of applications, from defence technologies and semiconductors to renewable energy equipment and electric vehicle batteries.

Western nations have been attempting to reduce their dependence on China for several years, particularly after Beijing imposed strict export controls on rare earths. However, building alternative supply chains has proven challenging due to the scale, cost and environmental complexities involved in mining and refining these materials.

Australia has emerged as a key partner in this effort. In October, Canberra signed an agreement with the United States aimed at countering China’s dominance in critical minerals. The deal includes an $8.5 billion project pipeline and leverages Australia’s proposed strategic reserve. This reserve is expected to supply vulnerable metals such as rare earths and lithium in the event of supply disruptions. Australia has since indicated that Europe, Japan, South Korea and Singapore have expressed interest in the initiative.

For India, participation in these discussions aligns closely with its ambition to become a global manufacturing and technology hub under the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision. Securing reliable access to critical minerals is increasingly seen as essential to achieving that goal in an era of shifting geopolitics and fragmented supply chains.