At BRICS Summit, India Warns Against ‘Weaponising' Critical Minerals Supply

The Wire

6 days ago

New Delhi: With China continuing to restrict rare earth exports, triggering global shortages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (July 7) told the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro that critical mineral resources must not be 'weaponised' by any country.
Speaking during the third session of the summit, Modi said, 'We need to work together to make supply chains for critical minerals and technology secure and reliable. It's important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others.'
China, a founding BRICS member along with India, Brazil, Russia and South Africa, was represented this year by Premier Li Qiang, as President Xi Jinping skipped the summit for the first time since taking office in 2013. The grouping had expanded last year to include six new members, significantly increasing its global weight.
In April, China imposed curbs on rare earth exports in response to tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, contributing to a shortage of critical inputs used in everything – from cars and consumer goods to advanced weapons systems.
China currently accounts for nearly 90% of production of global rare earth minerals – a group of 17 elements that are vital for a wide array of industries.
Last month, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that it was engaging with Beijing to resolve the April 4 export restrictions on rare earth magnets, which have disrupted India's supply chains.
'The Chinese Ministry of Commerce and General Administration announced export controls in early April on certain rare-earth-related items,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said. ' We remain in touch with the Chinese side, both in Beijing and Delhi, to bring predictability to the supply chain in line with international practices.'
According to Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative, China has increasingly used trade restrictions to undercut India's industrial ambitions, limiting access to raw materials and technical support essential for growth in electronics, EVs, and defence manufacturing.
Since mid-2023, Beijing has imposed curbs on critical minerals such as gallium and germanium. In late 2024, those restrictions were extended to graphite, affecting India's clean energy and battery industries.
The Indian automotive industry has raised concerns that continued delays could severely hamper electric vehicle production.
The BRICS declaration issued on Sunday adopted a cautious middle ground, calling for reliable and diversified supply chains for critical minerals, while also stressing the sovereign rights of states to regulate access to their resources 'to pursue legitimate public policy objectives'.