Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged BRICS nations to come together to ensure that supply chains linked to critical minerals and technology remain secure, thereby preventing these resources from being used as a means of coercion against other countries.
"We need to work together to make supply chains for critical minerals and technology secure and reliable. It's important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others," Modi said during his address at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Critical minerals and rare earth metals have become a new battle zone in present-day geopolitics, especially after US President Donald Trump publicly backed the annexation of Greenland, which has an estimated $4.4 trillion worth of critical mineral and energy assets.
Earlier this year, the US also inked a deal with Ukraine, allowing America access to the East European nation's vast deposits of rare earth and critical minerals, including uranium that is crucial for nuclear warheads and atomic power production.
Other critical minerals that the Trump administration is eyeing in Ukraine are lithium, graphite, and titanium, among others.
Critical minerals are vital for a range of sectors, more importantly for electric vehicles, solar panels, and semiconductors that are used to power a wide variety of essential appliances like computers, smartphones, and other major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
Besides, critical minerals hold a special place in the defence sector. For example, Titanium is much sought after in the aerospace industry, and Tantalum is vital for missiles and other precision-guided weaponry.
Earlier this year, the US also inked a deal with Ukraine, allowing America access to the East European nation's vast deposits of rare earth and critical minerals, including uranium that is crucial for nuclear warheads and atomic power production.
Other critical minerals that the Trump administration is eyeing in Ukraine are lithium, graphite, and titanium, among others.
Critical minerals are vital for a range of sectors, more importantly for electric vehicles, solar panels, and semiconductors that are used to power a wide variety of essential appliances like computers, smartphones, and other major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
Besides, critical minerals hold a special place in the defence sector. For example, Titanium is much sought after in the aerospace industry, and Tantalum is vital for missiles and other precision-guided weaponry.