Expert: Critical Minerals Crucial for Economic Security, Quad Should Emulate Australia-Japan Cooperation

Australian critical minerals expert Vlado Vivoda suggests the Quad (US, India, Japan, Australia) should adopt the close Australia-Japan critical minerals cooperation framework as a model to counter China's monopoly and price manipulation. The Australia-Japan agreement covers mining, refining, and manufacturing, prioritizing economic security and industrial resilience over pure trade profit. Vivoda is highly optimistic about the Quad's prospects, noting their strong complementarity: Australia offers resources, Japan provides tech and funding, India has processing potential, and the US brings massive market demand and financing. However, integrating their diverse systems remains a challenge.