Important News

U.S. Launches FORGE Initiative at Critical Minerals Ministerial With 55 Partners; Talks Address Financing and Global Supply Risks

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Key takeaways

  • The Critical Minerals Ministerial brought together 55 partners (54 countries plus the European Union) to address global critical-mineral supply chains.
  • The United States launched a new multilateral initiative called FORGE to foster collaboration and a network of partners for mining, processing, and resilient supply chains.
  • The administration announced a presidential strategic stockpile of critical minerals and plans to sign new critical-minerals frameworks with several partners.
  • A session will present a "price forward mechanism" to support minimum commodity prices and encourage investment; sessions will also feature the Development Finance Corporation, EXIM Bank, and other U.S. agencies.
  • U.S. officials are hosting trilateral technical military talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi; U.S. experts (named in the briefing) are participating.
  • Secretary Rubio said the U.S. is prepared to engage Iran in talks if Iran agrees to an agreed forum and agenda covering missiles, nuclear program, regional proxies, and human-rights issues.
  • Argentina and Morocco were highlighted as potential partners for mining and especially for processing capacity, with Argentina described as a featured speaker at the ministerial.

Follow Up Questions

What exactly is the FORGE initiative and what commitments does it ask participating countries to make?Expand

FORGE (Forum on Resource, Geostrategic Engagement) is a U.S.-led multilateral forum launched at the Feb 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial to coordinate allies on diversifying and protecting critical‑mineral supply chains. It proposes reference (“floor”) prices at each stage of production, coordinated trade/finance tools, and a preferential trading zone to deter predatory price dumping and attract long‑term investment. Participation commits partners to policy coordination (e.g., trade measures, price‑floor mechanisms, framework agreements) and to collaborate on mining, processing, financing, and supply‑chain resilience; specific binding obligations were described in outline at the ministerial but full membership terms are to be negotiated in follow‑on agreements.

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