Critical minerals weaponisation threatens shared growth, Modi tells Brics

At a Brics gathering, Modi stressed that weaponising critical minerals could undermine collective economic advancement across the bloc of emerging economies. The Prime Minister advocated for stronger, more resilient supply chain networks that would insulate member nations from external pressures and market volatility.

Modi's remarks highlighted the importance of diversifying sources and pathways for critical mineral procurement—resources essential for clean energy transition, electronics manufacturing, and defence applications. By strengthening internal cooperation on mineral extraction, processing, and distribution, Brics nations could reduce vulnerability to supply shocks and geopolitical coercion.

The Prime Minister also underscored the need for equitable technology access among Brics members, positioning such collaboration as vital to inclusive development. He argued that true shared prosperity requires frameworks that prevent any single nation or group from leveraging critical resources as strategic leverage against others.

Modi's statement reflects growing concerns within developing economies about mineral-dependent trade relationships and the concentration of processing capabilities in select nations, issues that have gained prominence amid global supply chain disruptions and intensifying great power competition.