US, EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Allies Hold Talks on Strategic Critical Minerals Alliance

Ministers from around 20 countries, including the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Korea, will meet in Washington this week to discuss forming a strategic alliance on critical minerals and rare earths. The talks aim to strengthen supply chains outside China for materials essential to industries such as clean energy, defence, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
The meeting brings together G7 members alongside key partners to coordinate investment, stockpiling and supply security for minerals that have become increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions. One topic under discussion is whether the US should support minimum pricing mechanisms to encourage non-China production, though Washington has shown reluctance to commit to guaranteed prices.
Australia has recently announced plans to establish a A$1.2 billion strategic reserve of critical minerals such as antimony and gallium, citing risks linked to supply restrictions. Japan has taken similar steps over several years, building reserves to reduce exposure to potential supply cut-offs.
Officials attending the summit hope to accelerate the development of alternative supply chains and improve cooperation among allies through pricing support, long-term contracts and investment incentives. European officials see the talks as an important step toward closer coordination with partners on reducing economic dependence on China.
Critical minerals and rare earths are vital inputs for modern technologies ranging from electric vehicles and wind turbines to smartphones and military equipment. Europe remains heavily reliant on China for these materials, particularly permanent magnets, which are crucial for many advanced manufacturing applications.
If the discussions progress positively, participating countries are expected to issue a joint statement outlining shared commitments and next steps toward building a more resilient and diversified critical minerals supply network.