India and Myanmar are accelerating cooperation in the rare earths sector, signaling a strategic shift for New Delhi as it seeks to diversify its supply chains for critical minerals.
The development follows official visits by Indian teams to Southeast Asia and a high-level meeting between Indian officials and Myanmar's junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing in May and June.
The move underscores India's growing urgency to secure alternative sources of rare earth elements, which are tightly controlled by China.
By deepening ties with Myanmar, a country with significant untapped mineral resources, India aims to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities and reduce dependence on Beijing for processing and raw material access.
This diplomatic push aligns with broader domestic efforts to bolster critical mineral security.
India recently launched an auction for 56 blocks of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, graphite, vanadium, and titanium, marking a significant expansion in its strategy to secure domestic supply chains.