India, Russia to Collaborate on Rare Earth, Critical Minerals

• India and Russia to jointly explore critical minerals
• Cooperation planned in aerospace, 3D printing, and tech
• Industrial ties deepen amid rising U.S.-India trade tensions

In accordance with the official statement, India and Russia are exploring enhanced collaboration for the extraction of critical minerals, underground coal gasification, and the construction of modern industrial infrastructure.

These negotiations occurred at the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization and Industrial Cooperation, functioning under the machinery of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission.

Critical minerals comprise lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements, all being crucial for clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, battery manufacture, and the power grid. As global demand has picked up on the rally, the partnership intends to capitalize on their joint strength in mining, processing, and industrial innovation.

The meeting also dwelt on cooperation in aerospace and technology, such as the construction of a modernised wind tunnel facility for the manufacture of piston engines for small aircraft, and upgradation in carbon fibre technology, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing.

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"Both sides also explored opportunities in rare earth and critical minerals extraction, underground coal gasification, and creation of modern industrial infrastructure", stated the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Besides engaging more in aluminium, fertilizers, and railway transport sectors, capacity building and technology transfer in mining equipment, exploration, and waste management were discussed, from an industrial perspective as well as a domestic one.

The idea behind this meeting is to consider the ramifications, while heavy duties have been slapped by the United States on Indian imports, with India reinforcing economic and strategic coalitions with its most prominent and long-standing allies like Russia, in order to ensure access to essential resources and technology.