Pakistan Shows Rare Earth Minerals To Trump At White House
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir presented what was described as a collection of rare earth minerals during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. A photograph released by the White House shows Munir pointing at an open wooden box as Trump observes, with Sharif standing by.
The meeting reportedly lasted about 90 minutes and included discussions on security cooperation, economic ties, and investment opportunities in mining and energy sectors. Pakistan has previously announced a $500 million deal with U.S. Strategic Metals to develop a poly-metallic refinery and export minerals such as copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earths.
Analysts note that while presenting minerals is a symbolic diplomatic move, Pakistan does not yet appear on official U.S. lists of major rare earth suppliers. Much of Pakistan’s known mineral potential lies in its Balochistan region, where extraction has been limited due to security and logistical challenges.
In presenting the minerals, Pakistan aims to strengthen its appeal to Washington amid competition over critical mineral supply chains. The gesture signals a shift in its diplomatic strategy, moving beyond security to leverage natural resource narratives.
