Trump’s critical minerals meet: Who’s attending, what’s at stake?

Al JazeeraEN 6 min read 100% complete by Sarah ShamimFebruary 4, 2026 at 01:48 PM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In February 2026, the United States hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, D.C., bringing together representatives from over 50 countries. The initiative, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to counter China's dominance over global critical mineral supply chains, essential for defense and technology industries. Discussions centered on diversifying mineral sources and establishing secure supply chains. While many countries support setting minimum prices for these minerals, the U.S. is reportedly hesitant. President Trump announced "Project Vault," a strategic mineral stockpile funded by private capital and a loan from the US Export-Import Bank. The ministerial seeks to build alliances to reduce reliance on China, which controls a majority of the world's rare earth minerals.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

European Union 35% Group of Seven 35% Cho Hyun ×240% US Export-Import Bank 40% South Korea 40% Project Vault ×260% US Department of State ×260% Marco Rubio ×370% Critical Minerals Ministerial ×485% Donald Trump ×290% United States ×690% China ×395%

Keywords

critical minerals 100% china 80% supply chains 80% critical minerals ministerial 70% us 70% strategic minerals stockpile 60% diversifying supply 60% national security 50% rare earth minerals 50% project vault 40%