Washington DC

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday underscored the growing link between economic security and access to critical minerals, calling on allied nations to jointly correct past policy missteps and collaborate on building resilient, diverse, and affordable supply chains.

Speaking at the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the United States, Rubio said the gathering marked an important beginning toward pooling collective expertise and innovation to address vulnerabilities in global supply systems.

“For years, as we focused on what appeared modern and glamorous, we pushed aside what seemed old-fashioned,” Rubio said, referring to mining. “In doing so, we outsourced not just production, but our economic security and future, placing ourselves at the mercy of those controlling critical mineral supply chains.”

He stressed that this was a global challenge requiring coordinated, multilateral solutions. Highlighting the strategic importance of critical minerals, Rubio said they are fundamental to infrastructure, industry, and national defence, adding that the US administration’s priority is to build supply chains that are reliable, widely accessible, and reasonably priced for all nations.

Rubio linked the issue to domestic policy, noting President Donald Trump’s view that economic security is inseparable from national security. He also recalled the launch of the Pax Silica partnership last year and pointed to the historic role of critical minerals discovered in 1949 in driving advancements such as the jet age, space exploration, and computing.

Drawing a parallel with the global energy crisis of the 1970s, Rubio referenced a meeting led by Henry Kissinger nearly five decades ago, when access to oil became a geopolitical tool. “Fifty years later, we return with the same objective—strengthening frameworks for critical minerals to prevent similar vulnerabilities,” he said.

He outlined how participating nations could contribute in different ways—through consumption power, refining capabilities, or cooperation in mineral processing—to strengthen a more balanced and resilient global market.

Although initiated by the United States, Rubio said the effort must evolve into a truly international initiative among like-minded countries to ensure secure supply chains that support global prosperity without becoming instruments of economic coercion.

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance, in his opening remarks, emphasised the central role of critical minerals, stating that their importance today rivals that of oil. He called for collective action to stabilise prices, reinforce supply chains, and address shared challenges together.

The United States is hosting delegations from over 50 countries at the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, aimed at deepening cooperation to secure and diversify global mineral supply chains, according to the US State Department.

Ahead of the ministerial, President Trump announced “Project Vault,” a supply chain security initiative that will establish a US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve through a public-private partnership to store essential raw materials nationwide.

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Rubio is chairing the ministerial, which officials describe as a landmark step toward strengthening cooperation on critical minerals vital for technological advancement, economic growth, and national security.