The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a $600 billion agreement, which includes a mining cooperation agreement

On May 13, 2025, during US President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, the two countries signed cooperation agreements covering energy, defense, mining and other fields.
Saudi Arabia has committed to investing a total of 600 billion US dollars in the United States (300 billion has been signed), among which 142 billion US dollars are military sales orders (the largest defense agreement in history).
The two sides also discussed the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, economic diversification (Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030") and security issues in the Middle East, but the specific contents of mining cooperation were not elaborated in the text. Although the news did not specify the details of the mining cooperation, in light of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" and recent international developments, it can be inferred that the cooperation directions are as follows: 1. Critical Mineral Development • Saudi Arabia's resource potential: In recent years, Saudi Arabia has accelerated the development of resources such as phosphate (one of the world's largest untapped reserves), gold, copper, zinc, and uranium. In 2024, Ma 'Aden, a Saudi mining company, announced a collaboration with an American enterprise to develop a phosphate industrial chain for fertilizers and new energy battery materials. • US demand: The US is promoting the "de-Sinicization" of its critical mineral supply chain, and Saudi Arabia may become an alternative supplier of battery metals such as rare earths, lithium, and cobalt. In early 2025, the US Department of Energy signed a memorandum with Saudi Arabia to cooperate in the development of clean energy-related minerals. 2. Mining Technology and Infrastructure • Technological Cooperation: Saudi Arabia may introduce investments from US companies in the fields of mining automation (such as Caterpillar and Joy Global equipment), mineral processing (such as Albemarle's lithium extraction technology), and environmental protection technologies (such as carbon reduction mining). • Project Case: In 2024, Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund PIF and the US Freeport-McMoRan established a joint venture to develop the copper belt in northwestern Saudi Arabia, with the aim of supply the global green energy industry. 3. Supply Chain Integration • Rare Earths and Strategic Metals: In April 2025, Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of the "International Consortium for Critical Minerals", joining forces with enterprises from the United States, Canada, and Australia, aiming to build a Western-led rare earth supply chain. The United States may invest in domestic rare earth processing plants through Saudi Arabia. Green hydrogen and mineral resources are linked: The NEOM New City project in Saudi Arabia requires a large amount of platinum group metals (for electrolyzers), and cooperation with the United States can ensure supply. Latest Update • Reuters updated on May 15, 2025: The Saudi Mining Minister disclosed that an agreement has been reached with General Atomics of the United States to build a pilot uranium mining project in Saudi Arabia to provide raw materials for the nuclear energy program. Bloomberg reported on May 12, 2025: Albemarle of the United States is in talks with Ma 'Aden to build a lithium processing plant in Saudi Arabia, taking advantage of the local low-grade lithium resources. Cooperation Significance • For Saudi Arabia: Accelerate economic diversification, break away from oil dependence (oil revenue still accounts for 62%), and enhance the mining value chain through US technology. For the United States: Ensure the security of critical mineral supply, counterbalance China's monopoly position in the rare earth sector, and at the same time provide resource support for the Biden administration's clean energy goals. Potential Challenges • Geopolitical Risks: The tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran may affect the stability of the mineral supply chain. • Environmental controversy: Saudi mining projects are facing criticism from international ngos for their ecological impact and need to rely on American technology for sustainable development. Conclusion: The mining cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia focuses on the development of critical minerals and the integration of supply chains. It is a two-way demand of Saudi Arabia's economic transformation and the United States' resource strategy. Specific projects may involve strategic resources such as phosphates, lithium, rare earths and uranium. Technological cooperation and capital linkage will become the core.