WASHINGTON D.C February 9, 2026 – The United States and Malaysia have taken significant steps to deepen their collaboration on critical minerals, with Malaysia’s participation in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 4 in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur shared images and a statement emphasizing the strong bilateral ties, describing the two nations as “standing shoulder to shoulder in shaping the future of critical minerals.”
Secretary Rubio hosted the event, which brought together delegations from 55 countries and partners to build secure, resilient, and high-standard supply chains for critical minerals vital to technology, renewable energy, and national security.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan attended, underscoring the country’s role in global efforts to diversify supply chains and promote responsible investment.
The ministerial featured major announcements, including:
- Launch of FORGE, a new initiative succeeding the Minerals Security Partnership to coordinate international efforts.
- Establishment of Project Vault, a $10 billion U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve to bolster domestic and allied supplies.
- Signing of 11 new bilateral frameworks and memoranda of understanding with various partners.
The event highlighted international cooperation, with flags from participating nations prominently displayed alongside U.S. leadership.
The U.S.-Malaysia partnership focuses on policy coordination, supply chain security, and shared prosperity in this strategic sector. The embassy noted that the ministerial represents “an important step forward” in ensuring critical minerals remain reliable, diverse, and protected amid global demands.
This collaboration aligns with broader U.S. efforts to reduce dependencies and promote sustainable, high-standard mining and processing worldwide.
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