Strategic Mineral Supply Chains Strengthened by New Indo‑French Agreement

Delhi became the venue for a decisive advance in Indo‑French strategic mineral cooperation on July 6‑7, 2026. The two countries launched their first Joint Working Group on critical minerals, jointly chaired by France’s inter‑ministerial delegate Benjamin Galejot and India’s Joint Secretary Karam Sandeep Vasant.

Discussions centered on creating an end‑to‑end supply chain for rare earths and other critical resources, covering everything from geological surveys to recycling and circular‑economy models. Both governments agreed that a secure, diversified supply network is vital for emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and advanced defense systems.

Key scientific bodies – the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) and India’s Geological Survey (GSI) – presented collaborative research road‑maps and identified joint field missions to assess untapped mineral deposits.

Additional bilateral talks included a meeting between Galejot and Deputy National Security Advisor Pawan Kapoor, as well as a round‑table with Indian industry leaders hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, focusing on investment flows and technology transfer.

The engagement builds on the joint declaration signed during President Emmanuel Macron’s February 2026 visit, which set out a shared vision for mineral exploration, research, innovation, supply‑chain resilience and circular‑economy practices.