Critical Minerals and Nuclear Energy: US and Colombia Sign Memorandums of Understanding

The United States and Colombia have signed two memorandums that put civilian nuclear energy and critical minerals at the center of their bilateral agenda. The agreements express both countries' willingness to cooperate on nuclear power for strictly civilian purposes and on processing critical minerals and rare earths.

The signing took place during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Colombia. Rubio met President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla, a Caribbean city designated by the Colombian president as the country's alternate capital.

The memorandums fit into President Donald Trump's strategy to promote what his administration calls a civilian nuclear energy “renaissance” and secure critical mineral reserves for the United States as competition with China intensifies. Washington has shown renewed interest in nuclear energy since Trump returned to power in 2025, even though nuclear construction remains expensive and politically sensitive.

Under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, Washington can transfer civilian nuclear technology for energy or scientific purposes when recipient countries meet International Atomic Energy Agency standards. Colombia joins Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Paraguay among regional countries that have reached nuclear agreements with the United States. Washington has signed such agreements with more than 25 countries since 1954.

The minerals memorandum also comes after Collective Mining discovered tungsten in Colombia's central Caldas department following six years of exploration for gold, silver and copper. Tungsten is dense and highly resistant to heat, making it valuable for industrial cutting tools, aerospace and defense industries, and electrical systems. The Colombian government hopes the memorandums will help it secure a temporary suspension of the 12.5% US tariff applied to some Colombian imports, including flowers, as businesses face economic consequences from the tariff.