Republic of Armenia - United States of America Framework For Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths

Whereas, critical minerals are essential for the production of advanced technologies;

Whereas, the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United States of America (the “United States” or “U.S.”), (hereinafter, the “Participants”) intend to support the supply of raw and processed critical minerals crucial to the commercial and defense industries of both countries;

Whereas, the Participants plan to accomplish this through the use of economic policy tools and coordinated investment to accelerate the development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals;

Whereas, the Participants’ objective is to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals supply chains, including mining, separation, and processing within their respective territories;

Whereas, the Participants intend to capitalize on their respective existing domestic mining and processing operations in critical minerals, as well as new capacity to be made available in 2026 and beyond.

Therefore, the Participants have reached the following understanding on a common policy framework for the mining and processing of critical minerals.

Section I

Critical Minerals

1. Securing Supply: The Participants intend to explore ways to enhance cooperation to accelerate the secure supply of critical minerals necessary to support the manufacturing of advanced technologies and their respective industrial bases. This includes leveraging existing policy tools such as the industrial demand and stockpiling infrastructure. The Participants also recognize the importance of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) in supporting the transit of critical minerals from South Caucasus and Central Asia.
    
2. Investment in Mining, Processing and Restoration: The Participants intend to mobilize government and private sector support, including capital and operational expenditures via guarantees, loans, equity investments, finalization of offtake arrangements, insurance, or regulatory facilitation in accordance with the respective domestic laws and regulations.
    
   a. Project Selection: The Participants intend to jointly identify projects of interest to address gaps in priority supply chains. Priority is to be given to projects that locate separation, refining, value-added processing capabilities and site restoration within the Republic of Armenia.
   
   b. Financing: Within six months of the date of this Framework, the Participants intend to explore measures to facilitate, where possible, the provision of potentially significant financing to projects located in each country, expected to generate end products for delivery to buyers in the United States and the Republic of Armenia.
   
   c. Investment Support: The Participants intend to work together to develop new or bespoke mechanisms to strengthen critical minerals and rare earths supply chains. This includes mechanisms to facilitate technology transfer to entities of the Republic of Armenia to modernize extraction and processing efficiency.
   
   d. Prioritized Look: While each Participant may determine if a project is suitable for investment, Participants expect to have prioritized opportunity to invest, in accordance with domestic laws, in critical minerals assets that may be sold in the Republic of Armenia or by a company headquartered or incorporated in the Republic of Armenia.
   
   
3. Permitting:  The Participants intend to consider taking measures aimed at accelerating, streamlining, or modernizing permitting timelines and processes, including in relation to permits for critical minerals and rare earths mining, separation, and processing within their respective domestic regulatory systems, consistent with applicable law.
    
4. Price Mechanisms:  The Participants intend to work to protect their respective domestic critical minerals and rare earths markets from non-market policies and unfair trade practices. This includes adopting policies to establish a pricing framework as appropriate that enable diversified, transparent, and resilient supply chains. The Participants also intend to collaborate with international partners to support responsible and resilient critical minerals markets, and address non-market policies in accordance with their obligations under international treaties and other legally binding multilateral documents.
    
5. Asset Sales:  The Participants intend to hold consultations to develop new or strengthen national capacities and diplomatic tools to review, deter or approve critical minerals and rare earths asset sales on national security grounds.
    
6. Scrap and Recycling:  The Participants intend to encourage investments in minerals recycling technology and work together to ensure the management of critical minerals and rare earths scrap to support supply chain diversification.
    
7. Third-Party Cooperation:  The Participants intend to collaborate with third parties, as appropriate, to ensure supply chain security and utilize existing engagement mechanisms.
8. Geological Mapping and Institutional Partnership:  The Participants intend to cooperate to assist in mapping mineral resources in the Republic of Armenia, the United States, and other mutually determined locations to support diversified critical mineral supply chains.
   
   a. Capacity Building: The Participants intend to establish a technical partnership between the United States Government and the relevant authority of the Republic of Armenia to support the creation and capacity building of a national Armenian Geological Survey. This cooperation is expected to focus on exchanging available data and scientific best practices, modernizing data collection standards, and training personnel in advanced geological assessment techniques.
   
   b. Data: The Participants intend for all geological data generated regarding the territory of a Participant to be treated in accordance with applicable law. Any sharing of such data for the purposes of this Framework is to be governed by mutually agreed data sharing protocols that respect the national security and proprietary interests of the Participants.
   
   
9. Workforce Development: The Participants intend to establish exchange programs and training initiatives to upskill the Armenian workforce in modern mining engineering, metallurgy, and environmental management to support the objectives of this Framework

Section II

General Provisions

1. Post-Project Analysis:  The appropriate authorities of the Participants are expected to carry out post-project analysis and implementation. The specific content of the post-project analysis is to be developed between the Participants, in accordance with their respective domestic laws.
    
2. Meetings:  The Participants intend to meet, virtually or in person, at the written request of the other Participant within 10 days of receiving the request.
    
3. Points of Contact: The Participants intend to designate points of contact within their respective institutions to coordinate the implementation of this Framework.
    
4. Discontinuation:  Either Participant may discontinue its participation in this Framework by providing written notification to the other Participant. Absent notice to the contrary, any such discontinuation would be effective on the thirtieth day after the date of receipt of the written notification.
    
5. Non-Binding Nature:  This Framework sets out a policy and programmatic action plan that does not constitute or create rights or obligations under domestic or international law, does not give rise to any legal process, and does not constitute or create any legally binding or enforceable obligations, express or implied.