India is intensifying its global quest for critical minerals by engaging in high-level negotiations with Brazil, Canada, France, and the Netherlands for collaborative exploration, extraction, processing, and recycling projects, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions, who spoke to Reuters.
The talks, spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines, center on securing reliable supplies of lithium and rare earth elements while gaining access to advanced processing and recycling technologies—key steps in reducing New Delhi’s heavy dependence on China, which controls the majority of global rare earth processing and a dominant share of lithium refining capacity.
The initiatives aim to replicate and expand upon the comprehensive critical minerals cooperation agreement India signed with Germany in January 2026. That pact covers joint exploration, processing, recycling, and the acquisition and development of mineral assets in both countries and third nations.
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“There are requests and we are talking to France, Netherlands and Brazil while the agreement with Canada is under active consideration,” one of the sources said.
Canada’s Natural Resources Department referred to a January statement confirming that both sides had agreed to formalize cooperation on critical minerals in the coming weeks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, where he is likely to sign agreements covering uranium, energy, minerals, and artificial intelligence, further cementing bilateral ties in strategic sectors. Brazil’s embassy in New Delhi, India’s Ministry of Mines, and the foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
The embassies of France and the Netherlands either declined to comment or did not respond. India’s expanding international engagement comes at a time when finance ministers from the G7 and other major economies met in Washington last month to discuss strategies for reducing dependence on Chinese rare earths and other critical minerals.
In 2023, India officially identified more than 20 minerals—including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements—as “critical” for its energy transition, defense needs, and growing high-tech manufacturing sector. The strategic imperative is clear: China currently dominates global supplies of many critical minerals and possesses advanced mining and processing technologies, creating significant vulnerabilities for India as it accelerates its shift to electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and electronics manufacturing.
Heavy reliance on Beijing for these materials poses both economic and national security risks, particularly amid geopolitical tensions and potential supply disruptions. Mining experts highlight the long timelines involved. From initial discovery to commercial production, developing a viable mine typically takes 10–15 years, with the exploration phase alone often requiring five to seven years and frequently ending without a commercially viable deposit.
India’s domestic reserves of many critical minerals remain limited or underdeveloped, making secure foreign partnerships essential to meet rising demand. India has already signed critical minerals pacts with Argentina, Australia, and Japan, and is engaged in broader bilateral discussions with Peru and Chile that also encompass these resources. The new talks with Brazil, Canada, France, and the Netherlands are designed to diversify supply sources, secure technology transfers, and establish joint ventures that can accelerate India’s midstream (processing) and downstream (manufacturing) capabilities.
Canada stands out as a particularly valuable partner due to its vast reserves of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths, along with advanced mining expertise and a strong commitment to sustainable practices. A potential deal could also include cooperation on uranium—vital for India’s expanding nuclear energy program—and joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, aligning with Carney’s anticipated visit.
France and the Netherlands bring sophisticated processing and recycling technologies, areas where India is keen to build domestic expertise to move up the value chain. Brazil offers significant lithium and rare earth potential, along with established mining infrastructure in key regions. The Ministry of Mines is leading these negotiations, with an emphasis on incorporating safeguards to protect India’s industrial capacity and prevent market flooding by subsidized imports.
Officials have stressed that any agreements will prioritize long-term strategic benefits over short-term gains. This diplomatic push reflects India’s broader strategy of “friend-shoring” critical supply chains in a multipolar world. By forging partnerships with resource-rich and technologically advanced nations, New Delhi aims to secure stable supplies, attract investment, and position itself as a key player in the global clean energy transition.
The outcomes of these talks are expected to significantly influence the pace of India’s green ambitions, including its target of 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 and substantial growth in renewable energy storage. Success would also strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and reduce vulnerability to external supply shocks.
The agreements, if finalized, could reshape supply chains, bolster energy security, and help India reduce its strategic dependence on any single supplier.