Quad unveils critical minerals plan to counter China

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia, has launched a new initiative to secure and diversify the global supply of critical minerals  in response to China’s escalating export restrictions.

The announcement came during a high-level meeting of the foreign ministers of the four nations in Washington.

The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative expands the bloc’s economic and security agenda.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar, US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, and Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya attended Tuesday’s meeting.

The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, described as a flagship program, aims to deepen collaboration with the private sector and regional partners. It will also promote electronic waste recovery and reprocessing, underscoring the group’s commitment to building sustainable, resilient supply chains.

Lithium, nickel, and graphite—all essential for electric vehicles, drones, and advanced battery storage—are among the critical minerals in focus.

As global demand for these resources surges, the Quad’s coordinated approach highlights how major economies are working to reduce dependence on China and ensure long-term stability for key industries worldwide.

With China controlling a significant share of the global supply chain, its recent export curbs have raised concerns about supply disruptions, price manipulation, and economic coercion.

In a joint statement, the Quad ministers expressed “deep concern” over the “abrupt constriction and future reliability” of supply chains for these vital minerals.

They warned that reliance on a single country for processing and refining exposes industries to “economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions,” with serious economic and national security implications.

The Quad’s broader agenda spans maritime and transnational security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance. The group also announced the launch of the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, with the next transportation and logistics conference slated for Mumbai in October 2025.