Australia will join a Canada-led alliance linked to the Group of Seven aimed at strengthening global supply chains for critical minerals, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced during a high-profile visit to Canberra.

Carney revealed the move while addressing Australia’s parliament, describing the partnership as part of a broader effort by trusted democratic economies to secure access to strategic resources vital for modern industries.

The initiative, often referred to as the G7 critical minerals production alliance, seeks to coordinate investment, production and supply of materials essential for technologies such as batteries, semiconductors and renewable energy systems.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the development alongside Carney, saying the two countries had agreed to deepen cooperation across critical mineral policy and supply chains.

The arrangement includes aligning Australia’s strategic mineral reserves with Canada’s defence stockpiling framework and working jointly to shape emerging markets for these resources.

The alliance brings together countries with substantial mineral reserves and advanced industrial capabilities in an effort to diversify global supply chains and improve resilience in sectors considered essential to economic security.

Officials say cooperation between partners will focus on accelerating exploration, expanding processing capacity and attracting new investment into critical mineral projects.

Carney described Australia and Canada as “strategic collaborators” in the global minerals economy, noting that both nations possess some of the world’s largest reserves of resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements.

These materials are crucial components in electric vehicles, defence systems, renewable energy infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

The announcement forms part of a wider set of agreements reached during Carney’s visit, which included expanded collaboration on artificial intelligence safety, defence coordination and space technology.

Both governments also agreed to strengthen dialogue between ministers responsible for industry, defence and emergency management.

The G7 initiative builds on a broader international push to secure critical mineral supply chains as demand surges worldwide.

Governments and industries increasingly view these resources as fundamental to economic competitiveness and national security, particularly as global technology and energy transitions accelerate.

Australia’s participation in the alliance is expected to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of critical minerals while expanding cooperation with partners seeking reliable, high-standard sources of these materials.

For Canada, the partnership reinforces its strategy of building networks among trusted allies to ensure stable and sustainable supply chains for the industries shaping the global economy.