U.S. and India sign critical-minerals supply deal; Rubio hardens Hormuz line as Iran talks drag.
Secretary Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar signed a U.S.-India critical-minerals and rare-earths framework in New Delhi. The Quad foreign ministers held their first 2026 meeting. The 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference closed without consensus. Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz negotiation continues in Qatar.
Day 88 · Iran war Year 5 · Ukraine war
Events
- Quad in Delhi. Rubio and the foreign ministers of India, Australia, and Japan held the Quad's first 2026 meeting at Hyderabad House; agenda covered maritime surveillance, undersea cables, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals, and counter-terrorism.1May 26 · State
- U.S.–India critical minerals. Rubio and Jaishankar signed a bilateral framework covering mining, processing, recycling, and investment across the critical-minerals and rare-earths supply chain — a tangible step out from single-source dependence.2May 26 · State
- Hormuz negotiation. From Jaipur, Rubio said U.S.–Iran talks continued in Qatar but the strait “has to be open” without tolls; only Iran's regime, he said, supports a tolling system on the world's busiest oil chokepoint.3May 26 · State
Voices
“What's happening there is unlawful; it's illegal. It's unsustainable for the world; it's unacceptable.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, on Strait of Hormuz · May 263
“We are two countries who have a strategic interest in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, on U.S.–India framework · May 262
“There must be zero tolerance for terrorism, and nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves.”
EAM S. Jaishankar, India, at Quad ministerial · May 261
Show 3 more voices
“The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, on Hizballah and Lebanon · May 245
“The inability of some NPT States Parties to take Iran's threat to global nonproliferation seriously will be addressed by the United States in our continuing engagements.”
State Dept. spokesperson Tommy Pigott · May 244
“There could be no Fourth of July without America's armed forces, and there could be no Independence Day without Memorial Day.”
President Donald J. Trump, Arlington National Cemetery · May 259
Allied Governments
- Japan–CARICOM. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Arfiya ERI attended the Caribbean Community's Council for Foreign and Community Relations in Suriname May 20–21, delivering Japan's CARICOM Policy address and holding bilaterals with eight member states.aMay 20–21 · Japan MoFA
Show 6 more events
- NPT consensus fails. The 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference closed without a final document; the U.S. blamed states that refused to confront Iran's safeguards violations and what it called escalating nuclear activities with no civilian justification.4May 24 · State
- Hizballah condemned. Rubio condemned Hizballah's call to overthrow Lebanon's elected government, citing continued cross-border fire and movement of fighters and weapons into the south despite a U.S.-brokered 45-day ceasefire.5May 24 · State
- Belarus emergency. Trump continued for one year the national emergency on Belarus first declared under EO 13405 (2006) and expanded under EO 14038 (2021), citing ongoing repression and disruption of international civil aviation.6May 26 · Fed. Reg.
- SEC offering reform. The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed broadening Form S-3 and shelf-offering access, extending well-known-seasoned-issuer benefits to more companies, and preempting state securities-registration requirements for all registered offerings.7May 26 · SEC
- Fed payment accounts. The Federal Reserve proposed a new “Payment Account” category at Reserve Banks — ineligible for interest on balances and barred from discount-window credit — through paired amendments to Regulations A and D.8May 26 · Fed. Reg.
- Memorial Day. President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth honored the more than one million U.S. service members killed in war at Arlington National Cemetery, six weeks before the nation's 250th-anniversary celebrations.9May 25 · DOD
This week
- U.S.–India critical minerals
- Iran blockade reaches 100 ships
- Castro indicted
- Warsh takes the Fed
- Arctic security pact
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio With Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu Remarks to Press,” May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/quad-foreign-ministers-press
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Signing of a Critical Minerals Framework,” May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/us-india-critical-minerals-framework
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press” (Jaipur International Airport), May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-press-jaipur
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Conclusion of the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference,” May 24, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/npt-review-conference-conclusion
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Condemnation of Hizballah's Reckless Call to Overthrow Lebanese Government,” May 24, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/hizballah-condemnation
- Federal Register, “Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Belarus,” May 26, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/belarus-national-emergency-continuation
- Federal Register, “Registered Offering Reform” (Securities and Exchange Commission), May 26, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/sec-registered-offering-reform
- Federal Register, “Regulation D: Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions” (Federal Reserve Payment Accounts), May 26, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/regulation-d-payment-accounts
- DOD War.gov News Stories, “On Memorial Day, Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Honor Nation's Fallen,” May 25, 2026. war.gov/News/…/memorial-day-arlington
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI Attends the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Foreign and Community Relations Meeting (Foreign Ministers' Meeting),” May 20–21, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/eri-caricom-suriname