Washington: South Korea will helm a new multinational initiative, the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), through June as part of a U.S. strategy to bolster cooperation with allies on critical minerals supply chains, the State Department announced. This move is part of Washington's broader effort to mitigate China's significant influence over essential resources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the announcement regarding South Korea's leadership role in FORGE was made following the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial. This meeting aimed to reinforce and diversify supply chains crucial for the manufacturing of high-tech military and consumer products. FORGE represents a strategic endeavor to address ongoing challenges in the global critical minerals marketplace, with South Korea playing a central role in leading this initiative.

The State Department emphasized that FORGE partners will work collaboratively at both policy and project levels to advance initiatives that strengthen diversified, resilient, and secure critical minerals supply chains. This initiative builds on the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a precursor to FORGE, where South Korea also served as chair.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the ministerial meeting at the State Department, with participation from officials representing 54 countries and the European Commission. Notable attendees included South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and representatives from Japan, Australia, Canada, and India. The meeting underscored the U.S. administration's focus on creating a "preferential trade zone" with adjustable tariffs to maintain price floors and protect against external disruptions.

The timing of this initiative is critical as the U.S. intensifies efforts to unite allies and partners in addressing supply chain vulnerabilities and other risks posed by China's control over rare earths and other key resources.