# US Advances Latin America Critical Minerals and Infrastructure

The United States is significantly expanding its procurement and investment efforts in Latin America through major initiatives focused on securing critical minerals and developing infrastructure to support supply chains and regional connectivity. Key actions include the **$12 billion VaultCo project**, a public-private partnership involving firms like Glencore and Mercuria to build strategic stocks of critical minerals and rare earths, and a **financing plan of up to $7 billion** for Argentina's Andes–Atlantic Corridor infrastructure project, which aims to link mineral-rich regions to Atlantic ports. These efforts are supported by federal agencies such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and involve cooperation with governments in Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina. The upcoming U.S. midterm elections may influence the continuity and scale of these initiatives, as political shifts could affect congressional support and funding.

- **Why this matters:** Procurement professionals should note the scale and strategic importance of these projects, which open opportunities for contractors specializing in mining, infrastructure development, and supply chain logistics in Latin America.
- The involvement of EXIM indicates potential financing and export credit support mechanisms that companies can leverage for participation.
- Political developments in the U.S. and Latin America may impact project timelines and funding availability, requiring agile contract and risk management strategies.
- Organizations engaged in critical minerals and infrastructure sectors should evaluate partnerships and compliance with evolving bilateral agreements and regional cooperation frameworks.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 25, 2026

### Government Entities
- Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
- United States Government
- Government of Colombia
- Government of Venezuela
- Government of Argentina

### Vendors
- Glencore (Founding partner in VaultCo initiative)
- Mercuria (Founding partner in VaultCo initiative)

### Key Quotes
> The midterm elections will have a direct impact on American influence in Latin America. That is because, if the Democrats manage to secure a majority in Congress, we tend to see a lot of challenges to various United States plans in the region.
> — Mário Sérgio Lima, Analyst at Medley Global Advisors

> During the talks, the strengthening of bilateral relations and the development of a joint work agenda in strategic areas, such as energy, mining, security, and other issues of mutual interest were assessed.
> — Government of Venezuela statement

> I don’t think there has ever been a moment like this for mining, especially for critical minerals and for mining more broadly, which covers not only extraction but also processing.
> — Augusto Ruiloba, Partner at A&O Shearman

### Sources
- [Minerals, infrastructure, technology and elections: the advance of the US in Latin America and what lies ahead - BNamericas](https://www.bnamericas.com/en/features/minerals-infrastructure-technology-and-elections-the-advance-of-the-us-in-latin-america-and-what-lies-ahead) - BNamericas