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US backs Pakistan’s Reko Diq project as it reshapes global critical minerals market

By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON - Pakistan emerged as a key beneficiary of a major U.S.-led push to secure global critical minerals supply chains, with Washington highlighting $1.3 billion in financing support for the Reko Diq copper and gold project during the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial.

The announcement came as the United States, alongside its partners and allies, unveiled a broad initiative to reshape the global market for critical minerals and rare earths, materials seen as vital for advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, batteries, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, hosted delegations from 54 countries and the European Commission at the ministerial, with Pakistan among the participating nations.

In a detailed briefing, U.S. authorities said Pakistan’s Reko Diq project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits, forms part of the Export-Import Bank of the United States’ (EXIM) critical minerals portfolio.

EXIM has authorized up to $1.3 billion in support for the project, underscoring Washington’s interest in strengthening mineral supply chains with partner countries.

The ministerial also marked the launch of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), a new multilateral platform aimed at building diversified and resilient critical minerals markets. While FORGE will be chaired by South Korea through June, U.S. officials emphasized that partner countries such as Pakistan would play a role in advancing secure sourcing, investment, and market stability.

U.S. officials said the broader effort is intended to reduce supply concentration, encourage fair markets, and mobilize large-scale public and private investment across participating countries, including Pakistan.