Trump Administration ने लॉन्च किया Project Vault: US में $12 bn का रणनीतिक आरक्षित महत्वपूर्ण खनिज

<h3>Overview</h3> <p>In the first week of February 2026, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Project Vault – A public‑private partnership created by the Trump administration to build a domestic stockpile of critical minerals, aimed at reducing strategic vulnerability (GS3: Economy)">Project Vault</span> was announced. Backed by <strong>$10 billion</strong> from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Export‑Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) – The U.S. government agency that provides financing for export‑related activities, now used to fund strategic mineral reserves (GS3: Economy)">EXIM</span> and an additional <strong>$2 billion</strong> from private investors, the scheme will store 60 items from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="U.S. Geological Survey’s 2025 Critical Minerals List – A catalogue of minerals deemed essential for national security and economic growth, compiled by the USGS (GS3: Economy)">USGS 2025 Critical Minerals List</span>. The objective is to insulate civilian industries from <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supply chain disruptions – Interruptions in the flow of goods caused by geopolitical, economic or natural events, affecting production and security (GS3: Economy)">supply chain disruptions</span> and to curb dependence on foreign‑controlled sources.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Creation of a whole‑of‑government framework where <strong>EXIM provides long‑term loans</strong> for purchase and storage of minerals.</li> <li>Targeted stockpile of 60 critical minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and others.</li> <li>Financing structure: <strong>$10 bn</strong> public (EXIM) + <strong>$2 bn</strong> private capital.</li> <li>Strategic alignment with other U.S. policies that promote domestic mining, processing, and magnet manufacturing.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The United States first adopted a strategic reserve model in <strong>1975</strong> with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Strategic Petroleum Reserve – The world’s largest emergency oil stockpile, created to shield the U.S. economy from oil supply shocks (GS3: Economy)">Strategic Petroleum Reserve</span>. Today, critical minerals underpin technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense systems. In 2025, China’s retaliation against U.S. tariffs by halting rare‑earth magnet exports caused a near‑shutdown of automobile production, exposing the fragility of the existing supply chain.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding <span class="key-term" data-definition="Critical minerals – Minerals essential for high‑technology and defense sectors, whose supply is limited and geopolitically sensitive (GS3: Economy)">critical minerals</span> is vital for GS‑3 (Economy) and GS‑1 (Geography) topics on resource security. The initiative illustrates the use of public‑private partnerships, a recurring theme in governance and economic policy. It also highlights geopoliti