From mobile phones to cutting-edge missiles, many advanced technologies rely on rare earths and critical minerals. Yet one country — China — dominates the supply chains of critical minerals: it controls 50% of their production and more than 80% of refining. That is why Pax Silica and the agreement with Brazil — home to the world’s second-largest deposits of critical minerals — matter. Hearteningly, India is expanding the mining of critical minerals domestically: it must do so while keeping environmental concerns in mind. Crucially, when it comes to both AI and critical minerals, India must not be just a market but a supplier.

Source: The Telegraph February 24, 2026 02:44 UTC