Pakistan’s ‘Trump Card’: Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir Showcase Rare Earth Minerals to Trump
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir presented a collection of rare earth minerals to US President Donald Trump during a high-stakes meeting at the White House last week . A photograph released by the White House shows Munir and Sharif displaying a wooden box containing colorful mineral samples, including what appear to be bastnaesite and monazite, to Trump in the Oval Office .
The 90-minute meeting, also attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, covered a range of topics from security and counterterrorism to economic engagement . However, the showcase of minerals underscores Pakistan’s concerted effort to leverage its untapped natural resources to attract American investment and reset its relationship with Washington . US officials have reportedly expressed strong interest in Pakistan’s rare earth minerals, which are crucial for high-tech industries and defense applications, as well as its potential for oil exploration and crypto mining .
The presentation follows a $500 million investment deal signed earlier this month between a military-linked Pakistani firm and US Strategic Metals, a private American company, to explore and export critical minerals . While Pakistan has long touted its mineral wealth, estimated to be worth trillions of dollars, much of it lies in the conflict-ridden regions of Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which have deterred investors .
Following the meeting, Sharif’s office released a statement praising Trump as a “man of peace” and expressing confidence that the US-Pakistan partnership would be strengthened . Sharif also invited American companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, and energy sectors . The charm offensive, which included Sharif wearing a US-Pakistan flag lapel pin, is a clear sign of Islamabad’s eagerness to move past the mistrust that has strained relations in recent years and reposition itself as a key strategic partner for the US
