Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita emphasized to US and global partners Morocco’s commitment to responsible partnership in the critical minerals sector.
He made his remarks in Washington during the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio organized.
Bourita participated in the high-level gathering, which brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from more than 50 countries. The opening session featured US Vice President JD Vance.
During the event, Bourita stated that today’s world does not lack minerals or rare earth elements.
However, he argued, the world lacks responsible development, and a language of trust among countries in addition to transparent frameworks where partnership replaces dependency.
He called for a pact of loyalty between producers, processors, and users, not based on ideology but on strategic respect and sovereign balance. He asserted that “Africa should be at the heart of this pact.”
The foreign minister also recalled King Mohammed VI’s message addressed to the participants in the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend Forum, stressing that Africa can no longer be satisfied with exporting its raw minerals.
In the message, the monarch recalled Africa’s assets in raw material reserves, critical minerals, as well as potential in mining, energy, water, and agricultural and biological resources.
Bourita called for investment in Africa’s infrastructure as well as skills and governance to transform the continent’s wealth into sustainable economic growth, job creation, and prosperity for its population.
“The current globalization of mining is neither free, nor fair, nor resilient,” Bourita added.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Bourita signed a memorandum of understanding with the US regarding cooperation in the field of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
For his part, US Secretary Rubio emphasized during a press briefing that Morocco as an important player in efforts to secure and diversify global critical mineral supply chains.
“Morocco has a key role to play because of the deposits it has, but also because of the kingdom’s willingness to invest in transformation and its cooperation in agreeing to participate in this global initiative,” he said.
