India is in Talks with Canada, France, Brazil, Netherlands on Critical Minerals Deals

India is expanding its global engagement to secure access to key raw materials, with ongoing discussions underway with several countries to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals. 

Talks Focus on Lithium and Rare Earths 

As per Reuters report, India is in talks with Canada, France, Brazil and the Netherlands to jointly explore, extract, process and recycle critical minerals. The discussions are focused on lithium and rare earths, with India also seeking access to mineral-processing technologies.  

The Ministry of Mines is leading these efforts as part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on China, which dominates global supplies of several critical minerals and has advanced mining and processing capabilities. 

Agreements Build on Existing Global Partnerships 

India is looking to replicate elements of a critical minerals agreement signed with Germany in January, which covers exploration, processing and recycling, along with the acquisition and development of mineral assets in both countries and in third countries.  

Separately, India has already signed pacts with Argentina, Australia and Japan, and is in talks with Peru and Chile on broader bilateral agreements that also include critical minerals.

As per report, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to visit India in early March, with agreements on uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence expected.  

Canada’s Natural Resources Department has previously said both sides agreed in January to formalise cooperation on critical minerals in the coming weeks. 

Long Timelines and Global Context 

Mining projects typically involve long lead times, with exploration alone taking 5 years to 7 years and often not resulting in a viable mine.  

India’s growing international outreach comes amid wider global efforts to diversify supply chains, as finance ministers from the G7 and other major economies met in Washington last month to discuss reducing reliance on rare earths from China. 

In 2023, India identified more than 20 minerals, including lithium, as critical to support its energy transition and meet rising demand from industry and infrastructure. 

Read More: Foreign Company Registrations in India Reach 5-Year Peak in 2025, Services Command 87% Share! 

Conclusion 

With multiple discussions underway and existing partnerships in place, India is positioning itself to secure long-term access to critical minerals as part of its energy transition and industrial growth strategy. 

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