ISLAMABAD — A senior United States delegation met Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Friday to explore cooperation in critical minerals, as Washington seeks to diversify global supply chains and reduce reliance on China’s dominance in rare earth materials.
The talks were led by Robert Louis Strayer II, president of the US-funded Critical Minerals Forum (CMF), who met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and other senior officials. According to a government statement, discussions focused on strengthening supply-chain security, encouraging responsible investment, and promoting sustainable development within Pakistan’s mineral sector.
Strengthening Supply Chains Amid China Concerns
The visit comes amid rising U.S. concern over Beijing’s control of global critical minerals, essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicles to defense systems. Strayer, who previously described China’s dominance as “a well-known threat to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness,” said the CMF aims to help emerging markets build transparent and reliable mineral supply networks.
He said the forum’s initiatives would emphasize rare and niche metals such as copper and antimony, focusing on reducing investment risks while encouraging technology transfer and intellectual property protection.
“We see Pakistan’s strong science and engineering base as a competitive advantage,” Strayer noted, adding that the U.S. viewed the country as a “potential future hub for critical mineral development.”
Natalie Baker, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad, joined the delegation and reaffirmed the embassy’s support for American commercial engagement. She stressed the need for investor confidence and clear regulatory frameworks to attract long-term U.S. participation in Pakistan’s mining sector.
Pakistan Positions Itself as Strategic Partner
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb welcomed the U.S. interest, noting that Pakistan is undertaking major legal and regulatory reforms to attract responsible foreign investment.
“We encourage you to return with a detailed framework for collaboration,” he told the delegation. “Pakistan will evaluate it with a view to ensuring mutual benefit and responsible investment.”
Aurangzeb described Pakistan as being at “a constructive intersection of global relationships,” maintaining close ties with the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia, while emphasizing the potential of minerals to drive export-led growth and reduce dependency on external financing.
He said a strong minerals policy could help Pakistan “break the cycle of balance-of-payments pressures and reliance on multilateral support.”
Broader Strategic Context
The Islamabad meeting coincided with the U.S. and India signing a 10-year defense framework, reflecting Washington’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy to diversify critical resource partnerships.
U.S. officials and think tanks, including the Atlantic Council, have repeatedly warned that the world’s mineral supply chains are “brittle and concentrated,” with China refining the vast majority of key materials. The Council noted that Beijing has “weaponized its dominance,” restricting exports of minerals like graphite and antimony in response to U.S. trade controls.
Strayer acknowledged that challenges to new investment persist, citing “high uncertainty in production costs and mineral prices,” which discourages private investors seeking predictable returns.
Despite the risks, both sides described the meeting as a constructive step toward building long-term cooperation in Pakistan’s underexplored mineral sector — an area increasingly seen as central to the global economic and strategic balance.
