Rare Earths & Strategic Autonomy – A New Phase in India–Japan Cooperation

India and Japan signed a Memorandum to strengthen collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sector

By Siddharth Deshmukh

As competition for critical minerals intensifies, India and Japan are quietly shaping one of their most strategic partnerships. What began as a discussion on reducing supply-chain risk has matured into a long-term effort linking energy transition, technology security, and regional stability.

For both nations, rare earths are no longer a niche commodity. They sit at the centre of strategic autonomy — the ability to secure industrial growth without being hostage to external shocks.

From Resource to Strategy

India holds sizeable reserves of rare-earth elements such as monazite and bastnaesite, though much of this potential remains underdeveloped. Japan, meanwhile, relies heavily on imports and still remembers the supply disruption of 2010, when Chinese export restrictions hit its electronics and automobile industries.

Recognising their complementarity, the two governments have built a working partnership. In 2023, India’s Ministry of Mines and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) signed a memorandum of cooperation covering exploration, processing, and environmental standards — signalling a shift from trade to technology partnership.

Japan’s View: Long-Term and Practical

For Tokyo, cooperation with India is part of a broader plan to diversify mineral supply chains. Since 2010, Japan has methodically developed ties with Australia, Vietnam, and Canada. India now stands out as a reliable and democratic partner whose geological potential and Indo-Pacific alignment make strategic sense.

Japanese officials describe the collaboration as a patient, trust-based project. METI and JOGMEC have already conducted technical assessments in coastal regions such as Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The approach is careful: progress will depend on transparent regulation, environmental safeguards, and steady investor confidence.

Japanese commentary calls this not dependence but co-development for resilient Indo-Pacific supply chains. India contributes resources and ambition; Japan brings technology and discipline. The shared goal is clear — strategic autonomy built on partnership, not isolation.

From Policy to Practice

Several signs point to progress.

●      Both governments are mapping investment prospects for Japanese companies in India’s mineral-rich eastern corridor.

●      India’s proposed Rare Earths and Critical Minerals Mission lists Japan as a preferred collaborator.

●      Trading houses such as Sojitz and Mitsui have begun evaluating joint processing ventures built around ESG compliance.

These may seem incremental, but together they signal a serious intent to anchor resource cooperation within a wider economic-security agenda that complements ongoing Quad initiatives.

Why It Matters

As global competition for lithium, cobalt, and rare earths sharpens, India and Japan offer a credible alternative model — based on trust, transparency, and technology rather than extraction alone. If they can combine Indian reserves with Japanese processing expertise and shared environmental responsibility, they will set an example of what democratic resource diplomacy can look like.

Strategic autonomy in this sense is not about self-sufficiency. It is about dependable interdependence — partners working together so that no single nation dominates the supply of materials critical to the world’s clean-energy future.

Key Facts: India–Japan Critical-Mineral Cooperation

●      2021: Technical consultations begin between India’s Ministry of Mines and Japan’s METI.

●      2023: MoU signed on critical-mineral exploration and processing.

●      2024–25: JOGMEC undertakes surveys in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha; investment mapping continues.

●      2025: The 15th India–Japan Annual Summit reaffirms joint work on critical minerals as part of Indo-Pacific economic-security cooperation.

About the Author

Mr. Siddharth Deshmukh is the President of the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC). He has been a catalyst for bilateral engagement, focusing on economic synergies and cultural exchanges. His leadership has solidified IJBC’s role as a pivotal platform for enhancing connectivity, trust, and cooperation between India and Japan. His re-election underscores his significant contributions to fostering collaboration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are the author’s personal reflections, shared as part of IJBC’s ongoing work to deepen understanding of the India–Japan partnership.