The global race for critical minerals—vital for everything from electric vehicle batteries to hydrogen fuel cells—presents a golden opportunity for the United States and South Africa to recalibrate their diplomatic ties. Recent tensions aside, both nations share a strategic interest in securing mineral supply chains and fostering industrial growth.

The U.S., under the Biden administration, had been aggressively pursuing mineral partnerships to counter China’s near-monopoly on processing. Meanwhile, South Africa aims to shift from exporting raw materials to refining them domestically, creating jobs and building industrial capacity. A well-structured minerals agreement, similar to those the U.S. has signed with Argentina, Peru, and Zambia-DRC, could be transformative. But adding India—a fellow BRICS member and recent U.S. minerals partner—could elevate this from a bilateral deal to a trilateral powerhouse.

By aligning economic and strategic goals under the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), the U.S., South Africa, and India could create a resilient and sustainable minerals supply chain—one that is independent of Chinese dominance.

America’s Dependence on South Africa’s Critical Minerals

The U.S. faces a well-documented supply chain vulnerability. China controls over 60% of global lithium production, 70% of cobalt, and nearly 90% of rare earth processing. South Africa, meanwhile, possesses the world’s largest manganese reserves (key for battery cathodes), 80% of platinum group metals (PGMs, essential for hydrogen fuel cells), and substantial chromium deposits.

Washington has been addressing these gaps through strategic MoUs, or memorandums of understanding: the 2024 U.S.-Argentina agreement secured lithium and copper, the U.S.-Peru MoU (October 2024) targeted copper and silver, and the 2022 Zambia-DRC trilateral deal focused on cobalt and the EV battery supply chain. A U.S.-South Africa agreement could prioritize manganese and PGMs, securing a critical link in America’s clean energy ambitions.

South Africa, however, wants more than raw material exports. Its “Critical Minerals Strategy” emphasizes beneficiation—processing minerals domestically rather than exporting them in raw form. President Cyril Ramaphosa underscored this priority at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, calling for greater local processing of critical minerals.

U.S. companies, with their expertise in refining and manufacturing, could play a pivotal role—just as they have in Argentina and Peru. Meanwhile, India, which signed a critical minerals MoU with the U.S. in June 2024 to collaborate on battery materials and rare earths, adds a crucial dimension. India’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors could become key markets for South African processed minerals.

The Minerals Security Partnership and Corporate Cooperation

Trilateral cooperation isn’t a novel concept. The U.S., India, and Tanzania’s Development Partnership, launched in 2024, is already strengthening energy infrastructure in Africa. A similar approach under the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) could formalize South Africa’s integration into a China-independent minerals supply chain.

The MSP, established in 2022 by the U.S. and its allies—including Japan and the EU—seeks to build “diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains.” While South Africa isn’t a full MSP member, it has engaged in MSP discussions, including the 2023 Cape Town meeting. A trilateral MoU could cement its role, integrating its manganese and PGMs into a global framework that counters China’s Belt and Road Initiative’s grip on African resources.

American, South African, and Indian corporations are well-positioned to drive this collaboration. U.S. firms like Ford, Fisker, General Motors, and Tesla—hungry for battery metals—and Freeport-McMoRan, a leader in sustainable mining, could establish processing hubs, following the blueprint of the Zambia-DRC partnership.

South African giants like Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats) dominate the PGM industry, making them ideal partners. Meanwhile, British and Australian firms also stand to benefit. UK firm Johnson Matthey leads in hydrogen fuel cell catalysts, while Australian mining giant South32, a key manganese producer in South Africa’s Northern Cape, could partner with Element 25, an Australian firm that supplies the U.S. from its Louisiana facility.

India brings industrial heavyweights like Tata Steel, which processes manganese and chromium, and Vedanta Resources, a leader in zinc and copper refining. These firms could collaborate with South Africa’s Exxaro Resources and U.S.-based Albemarle (a lithium and battery chemicals powerhouse) to establish a robust trilateral supply chain.

For example, manganese mined by South32 in South Africa could be processed into battery-grade material before being shipped to gigafactories in the U.S. and EV plants in India.

Building a Blueprint for the Future

A U.S.-South Africa-India MoU should take inspiration from previous agreements, emphasizing investment in infrastructure, market access, sustainability, and workforce development. There is no shortage of practical projects that could be included.

For instance, the U.S. and India could invest in South Africa’s transportation infrastructure, similar to the G7-backed Lobito Corridor initiative. American companies like Albemarle and Indian firms like Vedanta could fund new mineral processing facilities in South Africa’s Gauteng or Eastern Cape provinces.

Beyond mining, such an agreement could also help mitigate South Africa’s energy crisis. Frequent power outages remain a major obstacle to industrial growth, but renewable energy investments could provide a solution. U.S. firm First Solar and India’s Adani Solar could build solar-powered refineries, reducing reliance on South Africa’s unstable grid.

Corruption, a perennial concern, could be addressed through rigorous oversight mechanisms embedded in the MoU, ensuring transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, MSP financing and governmental support could enhance logistics, making South African mineral exports more competitive on the global stage.

A Strategic Victory for All Three Nations

A trilateral U.S.-South Africa-India MoU in 2025 would be a geopolitical and economic win for all parties involved.

For the U.S., it would secure critical minerals, strengthen the MSP, boost American businesses, and provide a viable counterweight to China’s growing influence in Africa. South Africa would achieve its goal of moving up the value chain, generating high-skilled jobs, and attracting foreign investment in industrial capacity. By leveraging corporate powerhouses like Tata and Vedanta, it would fuel India’s clean energy expansion and secure a steady supply of essential minerals.

As BRICS nations navigate shifting global alliances, this trilateral pact—uniting three of the world’s largest and strongest democracies—could redefine mineral cooperation in the 21st century. By fostering sustainable investment and industrial development, the U.S., South Africa, and India have a chance to reshape the global critical minerals landscape in a way that prioritizes resilience over dependence, and strategic collaboration over extraction.