On Monday, Australia joined a growing list of countries that U.S. President Donald Trump has secured critical minerals deals with in an effort to counter China’s near monopoly on supply chains. The agreement, signed during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ’s visit to the White House, concludes months of negotiations and could be used as a future bargaining chip for Australia in bilateral trade relations and defense cooperation.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the White House ’s new critical minerals partner, the first major test of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal, and a growing feud between Colombia and the United States .

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the White House’s new critical minerals partner, the first major test of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal, and a growing feud between Colombia and the United States.

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Securing Supply Chains

On Monday, Australia joined a growing list of countries that U.S. President Donald Trump has secured critical minerals deals with in an effort to counter China’s near monopoly on supply chains. The agreement, signed during Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the White House, concludes months of negotiations and could be used as a future bargaining chip for Australia in bilateral trade relations and defense cooperation.