WASHINGTON – Argentina is engaging in high-level discussions with the United States this week focused on strengthening cooperation around critical minerals and attracting investment, as global competition intensifies for resources essential to high-tech manufacturing. The meetings, beginning , involve Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside representatives from numerous other nations.
Quirno arrived in Washington with the central objective of participating in a meeting concerning critical minerals, convened by Secretary Rubio for “partners from around the world.” The aim is to bolster supply chains for these vital materials. Prior to the ministerial meeting, Quirno participated as a central guest in a private roundtable with company executives at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based organization focused on Argentina and its relationship with the United States.
The Argentine delegation also includes Secretary of Mining Luis Lucero, who arrived in the U.S. Capital . The discussions come as the U.S. Seeks to reduce its reliance on China for these strategically important resources, including rare earth elements used in everything from cell phones and electric vehicles to military applications.
The U.S. Government is pursuing agreements to lessen its dependence on China for these materials, considered crucial for high-technology products. A statement from the Department of State described the Ministerial meeting on Critical Minerals as a “historic” effort to “drive collective action to strengthen and diversify supply chains.” Participating nations include the members of the G7 – the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Canada – as well as Argentina, India, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
The meetings build on a memorandum of understanding signed between Argentina and the United States in August 2024 regarding cooperation on critical minerals, notably lithium, of which Argentina is the world’s fourth-largest producer and holds the third-largest reserves. Quirno indicated in a social media post on , that he aims to “strengthen cooperation and attract investments” for Argentina during this visit.
Alongside the mineral discussions, the U.S. Administration has announced plans to create a strategic reserve of critical minerals with an initial investment of $12 billion, dubbed “Project Vault.” This initiative will combine $2 billion in private capital with a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) to acquire and stockpile minerals for manufacturers in the vehicle, technology, and industrial sectors. The stated goal is to “ensure that American companies and workers are never harmed by scarcity.”
The push to secure critical mineral supplies comes after China imposed restrictions on exports of rare earth elements last year. Those restrictions were delayed for one year in October as part of an agreement between former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Argentine delegation’s visit also occurs against the backdrop of reported negotiations between the U.S. And Argentina regarding potential immigration agreements. The New York Times reported that the two governments were in advanced discussions about an agreement that would allow the Trump administration to deport migrants of other nationalities to Argentina. While sources in both countries have declined to comment on the specifics due to confidentiality, President Javier Milei appeared to downplay the reports on , reposting a message on his social media account dismissing the negotiations as “false.”
Quirno was scheduled to be received by Under Secretary of State for Latin America Christopher Landau on , following a previous meeting with Landau in Bolivia on November 8, 2025, during the inauguration of President Rodrigo Paz, which was also attended by Milei. The Wednesday meeting at the Department of State will see Quirno representing Argentina among invited nations, discussing minerals deemed essential by the Trump administration.
The opening session of the meeting will feature remarks from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Rubio, the President’s Special Assistant and Senior Director for Global Supply Chains, David Copley, and the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg. The agenda includes plenary sessions, a roundtable on investment in minerals, a closing address by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and a ceremony for the signing of a framework agreement.
European sources, as reported by The Guardian, suggest that a joint statement could emerge from the Washington talks if successful, marking a significant step in collaboration with allies to reduce dependence on China and avoid potential tariff threats from the U.S.
