PM Modi's BRICS Warning on the Weaponisation of Critical Minerals

“Weaponisation of technology and critical minerals,” PM Narendra Modi's warning at the BRICS Summit. At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the Prime Minister highlighted the risks of weaponising technology and critical minerals, calling for stronger and more resilient supply chains.

The New Delhi Declaration reinforced this direction, calling for critical-mineral supply chains that are reliable, responsible, diversified, resilient and sustainable, alongside greater cooperation and value addition among member countries. This is particularly relevant for industries built around batteries, energy storage and advanced technologies, where access to critical minerals is becoming increasingly strategic.

The larger question is what happens beyond sourcing. Resource security also means building the ability to recover these materials, retain their value, and keep them within the value chain. As battery volumes grow, that will become an increasingly important part of building resilient critical-mineral supply chains.