Quad foreign ministers commit $20 billion to critical minerals; U.S. and Armenia sign strategic partnership in Yerevan.
Quad foreign ministers in New Delhi signed a $20 billion critical-minerals framework and a joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz and South China Sea. Secretary Rubio signed a strategic-partnership charter with Armenia. President Trump expanded refugee admissions for South African Afrikaners.
Day 89 · Iran war Year 5 · Ukraine war
Events
- Quad critical minerals. The U.S., Japan, Australia, and India launched a Critical Minerals Initiative Framework in New Delhi, intending to mobilize up to $20 billion in government and private support for mining, processing, and recycling supply chains.1May 26 · State
- Quad joint statement. The Quad ministers named the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, opposed any “imposition of tolls,” and expressed “serious concerns” about Chinese coast-guard ramming and water-cannon use in the South China Sea.2May 26 · State
- Armenia partnership. In Yerevan, Secretary Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Charter, a critical-minerals MOU, and a bilateral framework for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.3May 26 · State
Voices
“[The] straits have to be open. They’re going to be open one way or the other. So they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful; it’s illegal.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, Jaipur · May 267
“We condemn the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls.”
Quad Foreign Ministers Joint Statement · May 262
“Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”
AAG Harmeet K. Dhillon, DOJ Civil Rights · May 265
Show 3 more voices
“Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”
First Asst U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, C.D. Cal. · May 265
“[An] unforeseen emergency refugee situation now exists due to recent increases in the incitement of racially motivated violence on the part of the Government of South Africa.”
Emergency Presidential Determination · May 264
“Your deeply significant visit underscores the unwavering commitment of Yerevan and Washington to continuously strengthen our bilateral ties.”
Foreign Min. Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia · May 263
Show 6 more events
- Refugee determination. President Trump signed an emergency determination opening refugee admissions to South African Afrikaners, citing “incitement of racially motivated violence” by the Government of South Africa and disruptions to U.S. refugee operations there.4May 26 · WH
- DOJ v. UCLA. Civil Rights Division sued the University of California, alleging UCLA’s “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic attacks on Jewish and Israeli students after October 7 violated Title VI and breached federal funding contracts.5May 26 · DOJ
- Lindberg sentencing. Greg Lindberg, founder of Eli Global, was sentenced to 12 years for a $2 billion fraud and bribery conspiracy that bankrupted insurance companies in North Carolina, Bermuda, and Malta; policyholders are still owed more than $1 billion.6May 26 · DOJ
- Rubio on Hormuz. Speaking in Jaipur, Secretary Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz must be “open one way or the other,” rejecting Iran’s tolling proposal; he confirmed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks continued in Qatar.7May 26 · State
- CISA KEV. A LiteSpeed cPanel privilege-escalation flaw (CVE-2026-48172) was added to CISA’s catalog of actively-exploited vulnerabilities; federal agencies are required to remediate by the catalog due date.8May 26 · CISA
- Foreign quarantine. CDC issued an interim final rule giving the HHS Secretary authority to suspend the introduction of persons from designated countries on public-health grounds; effective May 22, comments due June 26.9May 22 · HHS
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework Among the United States, Japan, Australia, and India,” May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/quad-critical-minerals-framework
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi,” May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/quad-foreign-ministers-joint-statement
- U.S. Dept. of State, “The United States and Armenia Announce TRIPP Framework Agreement and Sign the Strategic Partnership Charter and Critical Minerals MOU,” May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/tripp-armenia-strategic-partnership
- Federal Register, “Emergency Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2026,” May 27, 2026. federalregister.gov/documents/…/refugee-admissions-fy2026
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Justice Department Sues University of California for Antisemitic Hostile Educational Environment,” May 26, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/ucla-antisemitic-hostile-environment
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Owner of Multinational Investment Company Sentenced in $2B Fraud, Money Laundering, and Bribery Schemes,” May 26, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/lindberg-2b-fraud-sentencing
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press” (Jaipur International Airport), May 26, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-press-jaipur
- CISA, “CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog” (CVE-2026-48172, LiteSpeed cPanel), May 26, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/kev-cve-2026-48172
- Federal Register, “Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine” (CDC/HHS interim final rule), May 27, 2026. federalregister.gov/documents/…/foreign-quarantine-rule