The meeting took place as both ministers were participating in the high-level gathering organized by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on critical mineral supply chains. Official briefings note OCP-India memoranda supplying up to 1.7 million metric tons of fertilizers, framing Morocco as buffer against volatile global supply chains and export restrictions. Morocco’s participation in the Washington Summit reflects its growing strategic importance in global mineral supply chains. The Kingdom holds vast critical minerals including cobalt, copper, nickel, and particularly phosphate, controlling approximately 70-75% of global phosphate reserves used in electric vehicle batteries. During the Summit, US Vice President JD Vance announced America’s proposal for a critical mineral trading bloc challenging China’s rare earth dominance.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 05, 2026 21:05 UTC