The United States has assumed the chairmanship of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE), a coalition of like-minded nations working to build secure, diversified and resilient critical mineral supply chains, the State Department announced on 11 July. The handover follows South Korea's tenure as chair, which Washington described as 'successful'.

What FORGE Is and Why It Matters

FORGE was launched by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a ministerial meeting in Washington in February, as part of broader US efforts to strengthen and diversify supply chains for critical minerals — resources over which China has wielded formidable strategic influence. The coalition brings together allied nations committed to reducing dependence on single-source mineral supply.

Notably, South Korea had previously also chaired the Minerals Security Partnership, a precursor body to FORGE, giving Seoul a significant role in shaping the architecture of allied mineral cooperation before the transition.

What the US Has Pledged as Chair

In its statement, the State Department said: 'During its chairmanship, the United States will continue championing efforts to safeguard the national and economic security of the United States by working alongside FORGE partners to accelerate critical mineral projects that power our economy and underpin our security.'

Washington added that it 'looks forward to a productive tenure as chair and remains committed to working with our partners to create secure supply chains of some of the key critical minerals.' The language signals continuity with the coalition's founding mandate while placing US national security interests at the centre of its agenda.

The China Factor

The push to consolidate FORGE's membership and accelerate project timelines comes amid growing concern among Western governments about China's dominance across the critical minerals value chain — from mining to processing to manufacturing of batteries and semiconductors. Control over minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements is increasingly viewed as a front in the broader geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing.

This is the latest in a series of moves by the US and its allies to build alternative supply architectures, following export controls, bilateral mineral agreements, and investment frameworks rolled out over the past two years.

US-Iran Tensions Add to the Backdrop

Separately, President Donald Trump stated that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran is 'over', even as Washington agreed to continue diplomatic talks with Tehran. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, writing: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks'. We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!'

The remarks follow an exchange of strikes between the two sides this week, raising concerns that escalating tensions could derail negotiations aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending Iran's disputed nuclear programme, and securing a permanent end to their months-long conflict.

What Comes Next

With the US now at FORGE's helm, analysts will watch whether Washington can translate the coalition's framework into binding project commitments and accelerated timelines. The dual pressure of securing mineral supply chains and managing a volatile situation with Iran underscores how resource geopolitics and conventional security risks are increasingly intertwined for the Trump administration.