Energy to rare earth to Fiji port: Quad bid to counter China rise in Indo-Pacific, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• Quad nations (US, India, Japan, Australia) agreed to launch an Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Corporation to enhance maritime domain awareness.
• The Quad will also expand port infrastructure in Fiji.
• India and the US signed a bilateral "critical minerals framework" to secure the supply of rare earth elements.
• The US government is supporting critical mineral supply chain projects with over $30 billion in investments and loans.

Detailed Insights:

• The Quad's initiatives aim to counter China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific region and address supply chain disruptions caused by global conflicts.
• The India-US framework seeks to deepen cooperation in mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals and rare earths, strengthening resilient and diversified supply chains.
• The agreement builds upon the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) launched in February 2026 and Pax Silicia, addressing concerns over China's export curbs on rare earth elements.
• The US is mobilizing resources to protect sensitive supply chains from coercive market practices and reduce vulnerability to single-source monopolies, particularly concerning critical minerals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rare Earth Elements: A set of seventeen metallic elements crucial for various technologies.
• Critical Minerals: Minerals essential to modern technologies and economies, with supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Pax Silicia: An initiative focused on securing supply chains for critical minerals and materials.