US-Australia Landmark Framework Secures Critical Minerals Supply for Defense and Green Tech
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Mines | Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Australia and the United States signed the United StatesβAustralia Framework for Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths in Washington on October 20, 2025. The primary objective of this landmark bilateral agreement is to deliver a secure and resilient supply chain for the critical minerals and rare earths needed for defense and advanced technologies.
The framework immediately commits both countries to investing at least $1 billion each towards an US$8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects over the next six months.
Key operational details of the framework include:
Priority Projects: The first two priority projects identified for Australia are the Alcoa-Sojitz Gallium Recovery Project in Wagerup, Western Australia, and the Arafura Nolans project in the Northern Territory.
Response Group: A joint US-Australia Critical Minerals Supply Security Response Group will be established to identify priority minerals and current supply vulnerabilities.
Coordinated Plan: The US Secretary of Energy and the Australian Minister for Resources are tasked with developing a coordinated plan to accelerate the delivery of processed minerals.
This framework serves as a critical strategic measure to reduce reliance on single-source suppliers and to mitigate geopolitical risks within the global critical minerals market. For India, which launched its own National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to secure resources like lithium and rare earths, this US-Australia pact underscores the global urgency of supply chain diversification. Indiaβs own efforts to strengthen domestic processing and acquire overseas mineral assets are directly relevant to this global trend, highlighting the necessity for New Delhi to actively engage with global alliances and partnerships.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India quickly negotiate guaranteed access to the funding and technology flowing through this US-Australia critical minerals pact to speed up our own domestic manufacturing goals?
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