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Brics to take up rare earth export curb issue at leaders summit in July
Puja Das New Delhi
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The July summit of Brics, which has China as a member, will take up the country's restrictions on exporting rare-earth magnets, according to a top official.
Export curbs on rare-earth magnets by China, imposed on April 4, have halted supplies across the globe.
Apart from China, the grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
China controls around 70 per cent of the mining output of global rare-earth elements (REE) and accounts for about 90 per cent of the world's processing and refining of such products.

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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi's multilateralism plank needs tweaking
On June 26, the defence ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao without a joint statement. India had refused to sign on as the draft document avoided mention of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April while highlighting terrorist incidents in Pakistan. India argued that signing the document would undermine its positions and policies on State-sponsored terrorism. This bias highlighted by defence minister Rajnath Singh underscores China's efforts to shield its 'iron brother' and ally, Pakistan. While the disagreement over the issue casts a shadow over high-level meetings of SCO hosted by China as the rotating president, it also reflects a deeper problem of how India-China differences are now at the heart of their interactions in multilateral institutions and, thus, of geopolitics. SCO and Brics, which is set to have its summit over the weekend in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, have been geopolitically significant from their very conception. However, their focus was on what Chinese official statements often identify as 'practical cooperation,' which included cooperation in economics and trade, technology, counter-terrorism, and sharing experiences in dealing with governance challenges to coordinating positions in multilateral trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund and on climate change. This focus allowed the members to avoid geopolitical divisions. While these are still significant objectives, China's strategies in these organisations have changed in the last decade. In Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping's 'new era', Beijing has started to redefine the role and identity of SCO and Brics, yoking them more closely to its own particular domestic and international objectives. It has, thus, used these institutions to promote and validate a strongly anti-liberal Chinese model of political and economic development globally as well as to showcase Chinese foreign policy initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the three global initiatives – on development, security and civilisation – launched since 2021. China has aggressively promoted the expansion of the membership of the SCO and Brics as a way of countering the weight of Western-dominated regional and global institutions and it now increasingly wants to utilise these platforms to articulate significant geopolitical issues aligning with its own positions and interests. For example, China has hinted in recent years that these organisations should coordinate their positions on matters such as the Israel-Hamas conflict. India itself became a member of the SCO alongside Pakistan as part of the organisation's expansion and one rationale Chinese academics subsequently offered was to let the two countries use the forum to help resolve difficult bilateral problems. But China is hardly the honest broker — persistent India-China differences over Pakistan-sponsored terrorism relate to their broader geopolitical rivalry with Pakistan playing the role of China's proxy in South Asia. Expanding the role of the SCO and Brics to cover geopolitical issues as China has sought to do, redefines the role and identity of these institutions and, consequently, opens up avenues for internal divisions. Chinese moves have naturally led to opposition from India. New Delhi eventually acquiesced in the expansion of Brics but has taken a softer line than other members on Israel's actions in Gaza. Despite its gap in capabilities with China, India perceives itself to be a leader on the Asian continent and a rising power globally. China, for its part, sees itself as a putative successor to the US as the global hegemon but is aware of the challenge that India poses at least over the short term. Beijing's words and deeds have been tailored accordingly. In response to remarks by the Indian defence minister at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the SCO meet that stressed 'the need to create good neighbourly conditions' among other things, Beijing declared that 'China stands ready to maintain communication with India on issues including delimitation negotiation and border management, jointly keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil, and promote cross-border exchange and cooperation'. However, the previous 60 days had also seen Sino-Pak military collusion during Operation Sindoor, a trilateral between Chinese, Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers in Beijing soon after the declaration of a ceasefire, as well as the inaugural Bangladesh-China-Pakistan meeting of senior foreign ministry officials in Kunming in June. In the first two decades of the 21st century, multilateral forums such as the SCO and Brics provided useful platforms for interactions between the political leaderships of the two countries. However, structural conditions underlying India-China interactions have changed over the last decade. Even as there is the appearance of a rapprochement, India-China contestations have not only continued but extended to multilateral organisations. The Brics Summit in Rio has for its theme 'Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance'. However, India-China competition will now likely prevent institutions such as the SCO or Brics from emerging as platforms for Global South cooperation and advocacy. Given Chinese ambitions and strategies within regional and global organisations, there will be fewer multilateral forums where India and China can come together to move their relationship along other tracks or to discuss differences. Meanwhile, a West in relative decline and often unwilling to meet its commitments to the global good, and India's still limited capabilities in an age of rapid economic, technological and military transformation mean that claims of strategic autonomy ring increasingly hollow. Instead, New Delhi faces increasingly stark choices – alignment with China on the latter's terms, alignment with a West pulling in different directions, or a difficult, lonely free-floater position in international politics. The twin questions of what India must do to regain agency in its international relations and how it must go about doing it, have not yet been credibly addressed by its political leadership. Devendra Kumar is associate fellow and Jabin T Jacob is director at the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi-NCR. The views expressed are personal.
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First Post
6 hours ago
- First Post
Lithium, hydrocarbons, uranium…: Critical mineral reserves in countries PM Modi visits on 5-nation tour
As the global race for resources intensifies, Prime Minister Modi's five-nation tour signals India's resolve to secure its economic future through strategic mineral diplomacy read more As India sharpens its focus on securing critical minerals to drive its green energy and industrial ambitions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing five-nation tour holds profound strategic significance. His visits to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina and Namibia — each rich in key mineral and energy resources — highlight India's evolving mineral diplomacy. This diplomatic offensive is geared toward building long-term partnerships in sectors such as lithium mining, hydrocarbons, uranium supply and rare earth elements, ensuring sustainable access to the raw materials needed for India's technological transformation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Apart from the four countries mentioned above, Prime Minister Modi's itinerary also includes Brazil, where he will travel from July 5 to 8. His visit will serve a dual purpose of attending the 17th Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro and undertaking a formal State Visit. At the summit, the prime minister will engage with fellow Briocs leaders on pressing global challenges ranging from reforming international institutions and fostering global peace to advancing multilateral cooperation, ethical AI development, climate resilience, global public health and economic stability. A series of one-on-one meetings with other world leaders is also expected on the margins of the summit. Following the Brics deliberations, Prime Minister Modi will head to Brasília for high-level talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Their dialogue is set to deepen the India–Brazil Strategic Partnership, with a focus on boosting collaboration across key sectors including trade, defence, renewable energy, space exploration, digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, healthcare and people-to-people ties. Ghana: West Africa's lithium gateway and beyond Once primarily known for its exports of gold and cocoa, Ghana is increasingly seen as a key player in the global lithium supply chain. Ranking 10th globally and third in Africa in terms of lithium reserves, Ghana's west coast has become central to discussions on critical minerals. The lithium discovered in Ghana in 2018 has brought the country into the spotlight, especially as the world transitions to electric mobility and battery storage systems. This rise in mineral prominence aligns with India's green energy roadmap. Lithium is essential to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones and energy storage systems — technologies at the heart of India's energy security strategy. In light of this, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian head of government in over three decades reflects a reinvigorated partnership anchored on shared resource interests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India has responded with an economic commitment, extending a line of credit worth approximately $450 million to Ghana, targeted at critical sectors like lithium, manganese and bauxite. According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Indian companies have invested in over 820 projects worth nearly $2 billion since 1994, positioning India as Ghana's second-largest investor by number of projects in 2024. Beyond trade, Prime Minister Modi and President John Mahama upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, focussing on energy, maritime security, defence and digital infrastructure. The two countries also signed Memoranda of Understanding covering areas such as traditional medicine, standards cooperation and cultural exchanges. With increasing Indian involvement in lithium exploration and capacity building, Ghana is poised to play a significant role in India's mineral security framework. Trinidad & Tobago: Energy diplomacy in the Caribbean Trinidad & Tobago, the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the Caribbean, represents a crucial energy partner for India. Positioned just north of Venezuela — a country with some of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves — Trinidad & Tobago has a well-established petroleum industry dating back over a century. The country boasts one of the largest natural gas processing facilities in the Western Hemisphere and is the world's top exporter of ammonia and the second-largest exporter of methanol, as per data from IHS Global Insight. With global demand for clean-burning fuels increasing, Trinidad & Tobago's vast hydrocarbon reserves provide a vital option for India to diversify its energy imports. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During his two-day visit beginning July 3, Prime Minister Modi shall meet with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to bolster bilateral relations that span not just energy, but also digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and disaster resilience. The focus on areas such as FinTech and digital payments — where India has considerable expertise — highlights the complementarity in the India-Trinidad & Tobago relationship. Given that nearly half of Trinidad & Tobago's population is of Indian origin, the visit also celebrated longstanding cultural and historical bonds while laying the groundwork for deeper strategic cooperation. Argentina: South America's lithium powerhouse and energy frontier With lithium demand surging due to the proliferation of electric vehicles and energy storage technologies, Argentina has emerged as one of the most strategically important countries in the world. Holding the second-largest lithium reserves globally — constituting about 20.94 per cent of the world's total, or nearly 22 million tonnes — Argentina is at the centre of the Lithium Triangle, alongside Bolivia and Chile. This region alone hosts over half of the world's known lithium resources. Most of Argentina's lithium lies in brine deposits in salt flats, offering cost-effective extraction opportunities. The nation currently commands approximately 13 per cent of the global lithium resource market and is rapidly increasing its production, making it indispensable to the global battery supply chain. India's interest in Argentina extends beyond lithium. The South American country also holds the second-largest shale gas and fourth-largest shale oil reserves globally, with the Vaca Muerta formation in Neuquén Province seen as a future energy hub. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These assets have drawn increasing attention from Indian public and private sector companies. In 2024, a landmark deal was struck between India's state-owned KABIL and Argentina's CAMYEN for the leasing and development of five lithium blocks in Catamarca. Further, India and Argentina have expanded cooperation in oil and gas through agreements between OVL and Argentina's YPF. Defence ties are also growing, marked by the supply of helicopter components by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and technology exchanges with FAdeA. Trade between the two nations has seen significant growth, rebounding to $5.2 billion in 2024 after a previous year's downturn due to climate-related disruptions. With over $1.2 billion in Indian investments in Argentina, spanning IT, engineering and manufacturing, the strategic relationship is gaining traction. Prime Minister Modi's visit is expected to further galvanise these partnerships, ensuring Indian industries gain access to critical raw materials while offering technology and investment in return. Namibia: Uranium and rare earths for strategic autonomy Namibia, often overshadowed in global headlines, is increasingly seen as a linchpin in India's quest for nuclear fuel security and rare earth elements. As the third-largest producer of uranium in the world — contributing roughly 11 per cent to global supply — Namibia is vital to the global nuclear energy chain. The country's uranium production is poised for a significant upswing, as new mining projects come online in 2024 and beyond, according to the Chamber of Mines of Namibia. India is actively courting Namibia to secure stable uranium supplies for its civilian nuclear power programme. The visit by Prime Minister Modi to Namibia marks a strategic outreach to not just bolster uranium imports, but also explore cooperation in rare earth minerals such as neodymium, dysprosium and cobalt. These minerals are essential for the manufacture of high-efficiency motors, wind turbines and advanced electronics — sectors critical to India's technological future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Namibia also boasts substantial reserves of diamonds and copper. Indian firms have invested heavily — over $800 million — in Namibia, particularly in diamond processing and services. Despite the fact that Namibia doesn't sell rough diamonds directly to India, Indian diamond traders access Namibian stones via hubs like Antwerp and London. Prime Minister Modi's visit could pave the way for more direct trade routes and collaborations in value addition. The country also ranks among the top 10 globally in rare earth element potential, offering India an opportunity to reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains in this strategically sensitive domain. PM Modi's discussions in Namibia are expected to encompass defence cooperation, critical mineral exploration and deeper industrial partnerships. A mineral-driven diplomacy in action Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-nation tour is not merely a diplomatic gesture; it is a manifestation of India's recalibrated foreign policy centred on energy security, mineral access and economic resilience. In each country, the bilateral agenda was carefully crafted around core Indian interests — securing lithium from Ghana and Argentina, hydrocarbons from Trinidad & Tobago and uranium and rare earths from Namibia. These strategic engagements are complemented by economic tools, including concessional credit lines, public-private investment and knowledge exchange. For instance, the $450 million credit to Ghana covers vital infrastructure like the Tema-Mpakadan railway line linking mineral-rich zones to export terminals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Argentina, the public-sector KABIL's lithium acquisition marks a historic step in India's outward mineral acquisition strategy. From cultural diplomacy in Trinidad & Tobago to cutting-edge FinTech partnerships, India is broadening the definition of strategic engagement. At the heart of this diplomatic outreach is a desire to secure the critical minerals needed for energy transition, manufacturing expansion and digital transformation — three pillars of India's long-term development strategy. As the world races toward a resource-based geopolitical order, India's assertive mineral diplomacy, exemplified by Prime Minister Modi's five-nation tour, signals its intent to be a future-ready economy, securing its position in an increasingly competitive global resource arena.


Economic Times
6 hours ago
- Economic Times
Laying BRICS for highrise growth
iStock BRICS In an interconnected but unstable global environment, it is imperative for like-minded countries to strive for greater economic resilience through sustained cooperation and collaboration. Therefore, the role of BRICS—expanded BRICS+ actually—could scarcely be overemphasized. Having emerged as a major global force, BRICS represents around 40% of global GDP (in purchasing power parity terms) and nearly 47% of the world's population. With its recent expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, BRICS+ now reflects a diverse and influential coalition of emerging economies across continents. This expansion strengthens BRICS' role in advancing South-South cooperation and leveraging complementary strengths for shared growth. A key enabler of BRICS collaboration is the BRICS Business Council (BBC), established in 2013, with FICCI serving as the secretariat for the India chapter. The council plays a critical role in promoting trade, investment, and deeper economic ties among member countries. With nine sectoral working groups on areas like agribusiness, digital economy, and green economy, BBC serves as a vital bridge between industry and BRICS governments. The council's annual policy recommendations, presented at BRICS Summits, reflect the collective voice of businesses committed to inclusive and sustainable growth. One of them pertains to sustainability, which has emerged as a central theme across the council's initiatives. In agribusiness, precision farming, agri-biotechnology, and soil health management are prioritised, with knowledge-sharing platforms like ProAgro Lectorium helping train the next generation of climate-smart farmers. India's proposal for a BRICS agri-tech Corridor also aims to foster innovation and cross-border agri-tech collaboration. Another one focuses on the clean energy transition. There is a proposal to establish a clean energy fund within the New Development Bank. BBC is also working on a BRICS Energy Skills Atlas to ensure that human resource development keeps pace with the upcoming green infrastructure. It is also important because emerging sectors like solar, wind, and hydrogen will create a lot of jobs. The council stresses sustainable finance. The recently constituted BRICS Sustainable Development Network promotes green investments, ESG compliance, and improved financial access for SMEs, which are crucial drivers of inclusive growth. Besides, it provides an interface to experts, businesspersons, and policymakers. The council has also recommended better air connectivity among BRICS nations, which will significantly boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. It has suggested a green transition in manufacturing. This can be done by embracing circular economy principles and adopting advanced decarbonization technologies. This shift will be supported through technical cooperation and focused investments aimed at accelerating the energy transition and building climate-resilient sustainability, BBC is working on enhancing trade and logistics infrastructure, expanding skills training, boosting cooperation in the digital economy, and improving trade facilitation measures like paperless transactions. The council also continues to push for increased trade in local currencies to reduce transaction costs and strengthen intra-BRICS trade. However, realizing this vision requires extensive coordination on payment systems, financial regulations, and policy these multi-faceted efforts, BBC is actively shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and integrated economic future for its members. This is accompanied by the empowerment of women and the promotion of women-led businesses. In this context, the emergence of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance (WBA) as a dynamic platform was hardly surprising. Established in 2020 during Russia's Presidency of BRICS, WBA seeks to create meaningful opportunities for women across member countries. WBA plays a pivotal role in enhancing women's economic participation by unlocking cross-border business opportunities, facilitating collaboration among women entrepreneurs, encouraging knowledge sharing, and supporting capacity-building initiatives. Through these efforts, WBA helps women scale their businesses, access financing, and integrate more effectively into global value the years, WBA has broadened its focus, intensifying dialogue across six strategic areas of cooperation: innovative development, healthcare, food security and environmental safety, creative industries, tourism, and inclusive economy. One of its flagship initiatives is BRICS Women's Startups Contest, which encourages and supports women-led businesses across six critical sectors: healthcare; agriculture and food security; education and skill development; energy, infrastructure, and mobility; commerce, services, and digital transformation; and sustainable development and climate solutions. The contest caters to businesses at various growth stages, from MVP/prototype to early traction and scale-up, providing them with valuable visibility and growth important milestone in promoting women's entrepreneurship within BRICS was the WEFORUM, an international conference dedicated to creating opportunities for female entrepreneurs. The latest edition was held in March in Brazil, marking the fourth successful gathering since its inception in 2022. WEFORUM has grown into a key platform for bringing together CEOs, COOs, policymakers, and business leaders from across the globe to collectively advance the cause of women's entrepreneurship and leadership. The 2025 conference attracted over 1,000 participants and representatives from at least 10 symbolises cooperation, resilience, and shared future growth. Having grown in the last few years, it has the potential to script the growth story of a large part of humankind. The writer is DG, FICCI. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can this cola maker get back bubble valuation pricked by Ambani? Darkness at noon: Can this reform succeed after failing four times? 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