55 partners, including 54 countries and the EU, attended the Critical Minerals Ministerial

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at a Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, D.C., where the United States and 55 partners launched the FORGE initiative to diversify and secure global supply chains for critical minerals. The ministerial will include sessions on financing tools (including a price-forward mechanism), and the U.S. plans to sign new critical-minerals frameworks with partners; the administration also announced a presidential strategic stockpile. Rubio addressed related diplomatic issues: ongoing trilateral technical talks involving Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, possible U.S.-Iran engagement if Iran agrees to a forum and agenda, and Argentina and Morocco's potential roles in mining and processing.