India and Japan Hold Talks to Jointly Explore Rare Earth Deposits Amid Push to Secure Critical Minerals

India and Japan are engaged in discussions to jointly explore rare earth element deposits in India’s Rajasthan region, as the two countries seek to strengthen their positions in the global supply chain for critical minerals and reduce dependence on China.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Japan is exploring cooperation with India that could include providing technology and financial support to extract rare earth minerals, which are essential for advanced manufacturing, including electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defence systems. The talks build on existing cooperation on critical minerals and come amid broader efforts by both nations to secure stable and diversified sources of key resources.

India’s Mines Minister recently disclosed the identification of significant hard rock rare earth deposits totalling approximately 1.29 million metric tons of rare earth oxides in Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat. While India has abundant mineral resources, it currently lacks advanced processing infrastructure, making technology partnerships a priority for commercial exploitation.

Japan’s interest in the collaboration is also driven by its strategic goal of reducing reliance on Chinese supplies of rare earths, which account for a large share of global production but have been subject to export controls and geopolitical tensions. By partnering with India, Tokyo hopes to secure a more resilient supply base for industries reliant on these materials.

The talks also complement wider discussions between the two governments on critical minerals, clean energy technologies, and high-tech industrial cooperation, reflecting the deepening economic and strategic ties across the Indo-Pacific region.