U.S. Courts Argentina’s Copper And Lithium As Critical Minerals Become Geopolitics

Key Points

• Marco Rubio is convening a first U.S.-led Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4, 2026, to tighten “friendly” supply chains.
• Argentina is a prime target because lithium output is rising and copper projects could transform exports by 2029.
• The central tension is China’s dominance in processing and trade, including deep commercial links inside Argentina.

Washington is escalating its campaign to secure critical minerals from trusted partners, with Argentina emerging as a front-line supplier.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4, 2026, at the State Department.

Argentina’s foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, confirmed his attendance on January 21, 2026, saying he would work with partners on strategic supply chains and investment.

The meeting signals continuity across U.S. administrations. The logic is straightforward. Minerals like lithium and copper underpin batteries, grids, and defense supply chains.

U.S. officials argue that dependence on a rival power for these inputs creates economic and security risk. Reporting on the ministerial’s purpose points to a push for allies to reduce exposure to minerals of Chinese origin.

Argentina mining courts West amid China ties

That approach is also appearing in finance channels. On January 12, 2026, a separate gathering of G7 finance ministers and partners discussed tools to curb reliance on China for rare earths and related inputs.

Argentina offers scale in lithium and upside in copper. The country is commonly described as the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer. Output is expected to keep expanding, with forecasts pointing to 130.8 thousand tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2025.

Yet trade patterns underline the dilemma. Between January and November 2025, 73% of Argentina’s lithium production reportedly shipped to China. Only 10% went to the United States.

Chinese firms are also embedded locally. Zijin’s Tres Quebradas project in Catamarca has been presented with an initial 20,000-tonne annual capacity plan. Ganfeng has built a broad footprint across Argentina’s northwest lithium belt.

Copper is the longer play. Argentina is not a major copper exporter today, but projects could change that quickly.

McEwen’s Los Azules was approved under Argentina’s RIGI investment regime, with expected annual exports around $1.1 billion and a goal to produce copper cathodes by 2029. Private forecasts add ambition.

BBVA Research has said mining exports could surpass $25 billion by 2033, with copper above $11 billion a year if projects advance.

Buenos Aires is selling a decade-long ramp. Mining exports hit a record $6.037 billion in 2025, up 29.2% from 2024, largely on higher gold prices.

Economy minister Luis Caputo has projected energy and mining exports rising from about $16 billion to $75 billion by 2035, with mining contributing $31 billion.

The strategic question now is whether U.S. diplomacy can convert interest into financing, permits, and processing capacity fast enough to compete with China’s established ecosystem.

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