External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has begun a three-day visit to the United States to participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial, which is convened by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ministerial, scheduled for February 4, 2026, will focus on strengthening critical mineral supply chains, facilitating clean energy transitions, and fostering strategic cooperation in the sector.

The U.S. State Department has been encouraging participating countries to commit to a Framework Agreement on Cooperation on Critical Minerals Sourcing and Processing. This framework aims to accelerate investment, reshape global pricing dynamics, and reduce reliance on supply chains dominated by China. It adopts a "whole of supply chain" approach, encompassing various aspects such as mining, processing, recycling, financing, and permitting.

Jaishankar's visit occurs amidst existing trade tensions between India and the U.S., including U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and disagreements over India's energy sourcing from Russia. The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on most Indian imports in August 2025, along with a levy on India's continued purchases of Russian crude oil, which has stalled high-level trade discussions. Jaishankar is expected to discuss the broad contours of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) being discussed with the United States.

In addition to the ministerial meeting, Jaishankar will hold meetings with senior members of the U.S. administration during his visit. While the specific agenda of these meetings remains undisclosed, they are expected to cover a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. India is also expected to join Pax Silica, the flagship US initiative to build a secure global supply chain for semiconductors and AI technology.

This is Jaishankar's first bilateral visit to the U.S. in seven months, with his last visit occurring before President Trump's imposition of fresh tariffs on Indian goods. Trade disputes, tariff pressures, and disagreements over India's energy purchases have strained relations. However, there are signals from Washington suggesting a possible shift, with potential rollbacks of tariffs linked to India's Russian oil imports and a possible allowance for New Delhi to resume Venezuelan oil purchases.

Ahead of Jaishankar's visit, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi had a phone conversation, underscoring the ongoing high-level engagement between the two countries. Critical minerals have emerged as a key issue in bilateral discussions, with both sides emphasizing the need for secure and reliable supplies for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and national security. Representatives from G7 member states and mineral-rich nations are expected to participate in the meeting to enhance multilateral cooperation and investments in alternative supply chains for rare earth minerals.