India is accelerating efforts to secure critical minerals by expanding rare‑earth cooperation with Myanmar, aiming to reduce dependence on China, which has long dominated Myanmar’s mining sector and the broader global supply chain for strategic minerals. These minerals — including dysprosium, terbium, and other heavy rare earths — are essential for electric vehicles, defence systems, aerospace technologies, and clean‑energy infrastructure.
For over a decade, China has controlled extraction, processing, and export routes for Myanmar’s rare earths, giving Beijing significant leverage over global supply. But New Delhi is now moving to diversify its sources. At a mining forum in Mandalay, India’s Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur said bilateral cooperation in mining has gained “significant momentum” over the past two years, reflecting a strategic push to build long‑term partnerships.
India has sent two high‑level delegations to Myanmar — in December 2024 and February 2026 — to explore joint ventures, technology sharing, and investment opportunities in rare‑earth extraction and processing. The issue also received top‑level attention during the visit of Myanmar’s junta chief‑turned‑president Min Aung Hlaing to India in May–June, where critical minerals were a key agenda item.
The cooperation aligns with India’s broader strategy to secure supply chains amid rising geopolitical tensions and China’s tightening export controls on heavy rare earths. With demand for EV motors, missile guidance systems, and renewable‑energy components surging, India is seeking stable, diversified access to minerals that underpin its industrial and defence ambitions.
If you want, I can also break down India’s rare‑earth strategy or summarise China’s control over Myanmar’s mines.