Critical Mineral Diplomacy and India-ASEAN Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Building Resilient Supply Chains

Abstract

The strategic importance of critical minerals has increased and is reshaping the global geopolitics. It has made the secure and resilient supply chains essential for economic security, technological competitiveness and strategic autonomy. With Indo-Pacific emerging as a centre of economic and strategic competition, ASEAN has also become significant due to its critical mineral resources, processing capabilities, and role in regional value chains. Existing research on India-ASEAN relations focuses mainly on trade, connectivity and maritime security. The role of critical mineral diplomacy as a strategic pillar of this relationship is not much explored. The paper addresses this gap and examines how India-ASEAN engagement can strengthen critical mineral supply chain in Indo-Pacific. The study used a qualitative approach based on policy documents, official reports and comparative analysis. It argues that critical minerals represent a new dimension of India’s Indo-Pacific strategy that extends beyond traditional security and trade towards economic resilience and technological security. The study offers a new perspective that critical mineral diplomacy can act as a strategic foundation for deeper India–ASEAN cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The findings underscore the significance of institutionalizing the India-ASEAN cooperation along the entire value chain of critical minerals, ranging from exploration to extraction, processing, technological collaboration, investments, and recycling. This paper becomes more relevant in the current times when importance of critical minerals has increased due to a shift to the clean energy and digitalization.