On 20 October 2025, the United States and Australia signed the United States – Australia Framework For Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths (the Framework). The non-binding Framework will deliver a US/Australia secured supply chain for critical minerals and rare earths, required for defence and other advanced technologies, through coordinated investment and policy tools.
As announced, the US and Australia will take measures to each provide at least USD$1 billion in investments towards a USD$8.5 billion pipeline of priority critical minerals projects in Australia and the United States over the next six months.
The Australian Government has made financial commitments to two of those priority projects, being the Alcoa-Sojitz Gallium Recovery Project in Wagerup, Western Australia and the Arafura Nolans Project in the Northern Territory.
The Alcoa gallium project, a trilateral project with Japan, the United States and Australia, is forecast to provide up to 10 per cent of total global gallium supply. Gallium is an essential input for defence and semiconductor manufacturing. Once operational, the Arafura Nolans project is expected to produce 5 per cent of global rare earths, essential for energy security and defence.