India and France Establish Inaugural Bilateral Working Group to Collaborate on Strategic and Critical Mineral Resources
Summary
India and France have formally inaugurated their first Joint Working Group (JWG) on Critical Minerals in New Delhi, co-chaired by France's Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals Benjamin Gallezot and India's Joint Secretary of the National Critical Mineral Mission, Kadam Sandeep Vasant, signaling a significant milestone in bilateral strategic cooperation. The working group discussions centered on strengthening collaboration across the entire critical minerals value chain, including exploration, processing, recycling, and building resilient supply chains for rare earth elements and strategic minerals. The initiative is grounded in the France–India Joint Declaration of Intent on Critical Minerals Cooperation, signed during President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India in February 2026, which provides the overarching framework for joint efforts in mining, research, innovation, and supply chain diversification. During the visit, Gallezot also engaged with India's Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor and met representatives of Indian industry through a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-organized interaction, highlighting the strategic and industrial dimensions of this partnership. Both nations also identified opportunities for collaborative projects not only within their borders but also in third strategic countries, underscoring the geopolitical ambitions of this cooperation.
Key Takeaways
- 1. **Strategic Supply Chain Security:** The JWG directly addresses both nations' vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains, aiming to reduce dependence on dominant suppliers like China by building diversified and resilient sourcing networks.
- 2. **Defence and Technological Sovereignty:** Critical minerals are essential for advanced defence manufacturing, including electronics, aerospace, and weapons systems, making this cooperation highly significant for both India's and France's defence industrial bases.
- 3. **Geopolitical Dimension:** The inclusion of collaborative projects in "other strategic countries" indicates a coordinated approach to securing mineral access globally, reflecting a broader Indo-French strategic alignment in resource diplomacy.
- 4. **Institutional Framework Strengthening:** Active participation by the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) and the Geological Survey of India builds upon an existing long-standing partnership, creating a robust technical foundation for joint mineral exploration and research.
- 5. **Clean Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Linkage:** The cooperation supports both nations' ambitions in clean energy transition and advanced manufacturing, with critical minerals being indispensable for technologies such as electric vehicles, batteries, and next-generation defence platforms.