Secretary Rubio discusses the Critical Minerals Ministerial (0:06), an initiative aimed at diversifying global supply chains for critical minerals (0:06-0:26). He emphasizes that the current concentration of these minerals in one country poses risks of geopolitical leverage and supply disruptions (0:52-1:07).
Key points of the ministerial and related initiatives include:
- Goal: To establish reliable and diverse supply chains for critical minerals, essential for technological innovation, economic strength, and national security (1:11-1:18).
- Economic Challenges: Foreign competitors often undercut prices through state subsidies and unfair practices, making it economically unviable for other countries to explore and process critical minerals (1:26-1:52).
- U.S. Actions: The U.S. is leading by example with permitting reform for domestic critical mineral industries and creating demand through a strategic stockpile (2:09-2:26).
- Global Response: The ministerial seeks to create a global forum and launched the Forge initiative (2:32-2:46) to address this challenge, with 55 partners and more expected to join (0:08-0:16).
- Future Sessions: Upcoming sessions will cover a price floor mechanism to ensure economic viability for investments in these sectors (3:12-3:29) and showcase financing tools from various U.S. departments (3:31-3:41).
- Bilateral Agreements: New critical minerals frameworks are expected to be signed with several partners (3:49-3:52), highlighting the billions of dollars the U.S. government has committed to this endeavor (3:57-4:03).
Secretary Rubio also addresses specific country roles and foreign policy matters:
- Ukraine: Critical minerals are vital for Ukraine’s future economic prosperity and rebuilding efforts post-war (7:14-7:42).
- Argentina: Recognized as a key partner in critical minerals due to its natural resources and expertise in processing (8:33-9:11).
- Iran: The U.S. is open to engaging with Iran, but talks must include their ballistic missile program, sponsorship of terrorist organizations, nuclear program, and treatment of their own people (10:04-11:20).
- Morocco: Plays a crucial role due to its critical mineral deposits and willingness to invest in processing, contributing to a diversified global supply network (15:08-16:01).
U.S. Department of State Feb 4, 2026
Sources: U.S. Department of State , Video directly
Midtown Tribune news