In April 2025, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric Font, the country’s youngest leader at age 39, is scheduled to visit India, marking a significant milestone in the growing bilateral relationship between the two nations. This visit, set to occur just weeks after the Noida International Airport in Jewar begins operations, is poised to strengthen India’s pursuit of self-reliance, or Atmanirbharta, in critical minerals—resources vital for its clean energy transition, technological advancement, and economic security. With Chile being a global leader in lithium and copper production, the visit underscores a strategic partnership aimed at reducing India’s dependence on China-dominated supply chains and bolstering its ambitions in electric mobility, renewable energy, and high-tech industries. Below is a detailed exploration of the context, objectives, and potential outcomes of this high-profile diplomatic engagement as of March 20, 2025.
Context: India’s Critical Minerals Challenge
India’s rapid industrialization and commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 have intensified its demand for critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. These materials are essential for manufacturing batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, wind turbines, and semiconductors—cornerstones of a low-carbon economy and technological self-sufficiency. However, India imports nearly 100% of its lithium and a significant portion of its copper, with China controlling much of the global supply chain, processing over 60% of lithium and rare earths.
To address this vulnerability, India launched the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) in January 2025, approved by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of ₹34,300 crore over seven years. The NCMM aims to enhance domestic exploration, secure overseas assets, and build resilient supply chains. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a state-owned entity formed in 2019, has been tasked with acquiring critical mineral resources abroad, including lithium blocks in Argentina and potential deals in Australia and Chile. The upcoming visit by President Boric aligns with these efforts, offering a chance to deepen ties with Chile, a key player in the global minerals market.
Chile’s Role: A Mineral Powerhouse
Chile is a linchpin in the global supply of critical minerals:
- Lithium: Known as “white gold,” lithium is crucial for EV batteries and energy storage. Chile holds the world’s largest lithium reserves (9.3 million metric tons, per USGS 2024 estimates) and is the second-largest producer after Australia, contributing over 25% of global supply. Most of its lithium comes from the Atacama Desert’s salt flats.
- Copper: As the world’s top copper producer, Chile accounts for nearly 28% of global output (5.4 million metric tons in 2024). Copper is indispensable for electrical grids, renewable energy infrastructure, and electronics, with demand surging due to India’s infrastructure boom and the global AI revolution.
Chile’s stable political environment, advanced mining expertise, and membership in the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)—which India joined in 2023—make it an ideal partner for India’s Atmanirbharta goals. Unlike China, Chile offers a geopolitically neutral and reliable source, reducing risks tied to resource nationalism or trade disputes.
Objectives of the April 2025 Visit
President Boric’s visit, his first to India since taking office in March 2022, builds on prior engagements, such as his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. The agenda is expected to focus heavily on critical minerals, alongside trade, technology, and cultural ties. Key objectives include:
- Securing Lithium Supplies:
- India aims to negotiate long-term lithium supply agreements with Chile. With EV adoption accelerating—India targets 30% EV penetration by 2030—securing lithium is critical. KABIL may explore joint ventures or equity stakes in Chilean lithium mines, similar to its 2024 deal in Argentina for five lithium blocks in Catamarca province.
- Discussions could also involve technology transfers for sustainable extraction, addressing environmental concerns in Chile’s Atacama region, where water-intensive lithium mining has strained local ecosystems.
- Boosting Copper Imports and Investment:
- India’s copper demand, driven by infrastructure projects like New Noida and the Semiconductor Mission, is projected to double by 2030. Chile could become a primary supplier, reducing reliance on imports from Japan and Peru.
- Potential investments by Indian firms in Chilean copper mines or processing facilities may be on the table, enhancing bilateral trade, which reached $2.9 billion in 2024.
- Advancing the National Critical Minerals Mission:
- The visit aligns with the NCMM’s international outreach. Chile’s expertise in mining and India’s growing processing capabilities could lead to a value-chain partnership—Chile supplying raw minerals and India refining them domestically, supported by the 2024–25 budget’s customs duty exemptions on 25 critical minerals.
- Strengthening Bilateral Ties:
- Beyond minerals, the leaders are likely to expand the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), in effect since 2007 and widened in 2017. Chile’s exports of fruits, wine, and nuts could find a larger market in India, while India pushes pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and IT services.
- A 30+ member Chilean business delegation, including IT firms, will precede Boric’s visit, participating in INDIASOFT 2025 and the India Electronics Expo in March, signaling broader economic collaboration.
Strategic Importance for Atmanirbharta
The concept of Atmanirbharta—self-reliance—extends beyond economic independence to strategic autonomy. Partnering with Chile advances this vision in several ways:
- Diversifying Supply Chains: Reducing dependence on China, which dominates 70% of global rare earth processing and imposed graphite export curbs in 2023, mitigates risks of supply disruptions.
- Green Energy Goals: Access to Chilean lithium and copper supports India’s renewable energy targets (500 GW by 2030) and EV ecosystem, aligning with the 2025–26 budget’s focus on clean tech.
- Technological Edge: Collaboration could bolster India’s Semiconductor Mission and National Quantum Mission, both reliant on critical minerals like gallium and silicon, enhancing technological sovereignty.
Challenges and Considerations
While promising, the partnership faces hurdles:
- Resource Nationalism: Chile’s 2023 move to nationalize its lithium industry under state control could complicate private-sector deals. India must navigate this through government-to-government agreements.
- Environmental Concerns: Lithium mining’s water-intensive nature has sparked protests in Chile’s Indigenous communities. India may need to invest in sustainable technologies to align with Boric’s progressive environmental stance.
- Logistical Barriers: Commercial production from overseas assets takes years, meaning immediate benefits may be limited. India’s domestic exploration (368 GSI projects since 2022) must complement these efforts.
Potential Outcomes
Boric’s visit could yield concrete agreements:
- A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on critical minerals cooperation, mirroring India’s pacts with Australia and the US.
- Joint ventures between KABIL and Chilean firms like SQM or Codelco, the state-owned copper giant.
- Commitments to sustainable mining practices, enhancing India’s global green credentials.
Culturally, the visit may foster exchanges—Chile’s interest in yoga and India’s appreciation for Chilean literature (e.g., Pablo Neruda)—deepening people-to-people ties.
Conclusion
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric’s visit to India in April 2025 is a pivotal step toward Atmanirbharta in critical minerals, leveraging Chile’s lithium and copper wealth to fuel India’s green and technological ambitions. As of March 20, 2025, with the NCMM in motion and global supply chains under strain, this partnership offers India a chance to secure vital resources, diversify away from China, and cement its role in the low-carbon future. If successful, the visit could mark a turning point in India-Chile relations, blending economic pragmatism with shared goals of sustainability and resilience.
