New Delhi, May 26 -- India and the US on Tuesday signed an agreement for cooperation on critical minerals, including the protection of sensitive supply chains and reducing vulnerability to monopolies, against the backdrop of China's dominance in rare earths that are crucial for clean energy, advanced technology and defence.

Framework on "Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths" was signed by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and US secretary of state Marco Rubio to deepen bilateral cooperation across the critical minerals supply chain, from mining and processing to recycling and related investments, the external affairs ministry said.

The framework will allow India and the US to become p...