Cooper says also discussed critical minerals cooperation with Rubio

Cooper says also discussed critical minerals cooperation with Rubio

U.S. Advances Global Critical Minerals Collaboration at 2026 Ministerial

The United States, alongside 54 partner nations and the European Commission, convened the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4 to strengthen global supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. Hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, the event marked a pivotal step in diversifying access to resources vital for advanced technologies, including AI, batteries, and semiconductors according to the State Department.

The ministerial resulted in the signing of 11 new bilateral frameworks and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with countries such as Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These agreements aim to address pricing volatility, enhance market transparency, and secure reliable logistics networks as detailed in official reports. The U.S. also launched the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), a successor to the Minerals Security Partnership, to coordinate international efforts in building resilient supply chains. FORGE, chaired by South Korea until June 2026, will focus on policy alignment and project-level collaboration according to State Department statements.

A key initiative announced was Project Vault, a $10 billion strategic reserve for critical minerals backed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). This program seeks to insulate domestic manufacturers from supply shocks and bolster U.S. production capacity according to the State Department. Over the past six months, the U.S. government has mobilized over $30 billion in financing for critical minerals projects, including $14.8 billion in EXIM Letters of Interest and significant Department of Energy (DOE) loans for lithium, cobalt, and rare earth processing as reported by the State Department.

Private-sector engagement was emphasized, with the U.S. facilitating partnerships like the Orion Critical Minerals Consortium's MOU with Glencore for DRC mining assets. These efforts align with broader goals to reduce reliance on China, which dominates processing and refining, and to establish a U.S.-led trading bloc with allies according to Clark Hill analysis.

The ministerial also highlighted regional cooperation, including a U.S.-Mexico Action Plan and trilateral discussions with the European Commission and Japan. With additional projects in the pipeline, the U.S. aims to solidify its leadership in securing strategic minerals amid intensifying global competition according to State Department documentation.

Source: U.S. Department of State, 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial Fact Sheet
Source: Clark Hill, Critical Minerals Ministerial Recap