YEREVAN, May 26. /TASS/. The United States expects that signing of the framework memorandum with Armenia on processing of critical minerals and rare-earth metals will lead to strengthening the countries' economic independence, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters.

"We are going to be able to work together to make sure that both of our countries, both of our economies are going to have reliable access to these critical minerals in a way that is not just financially beneficial to our countries, but also fuel that cycle of innovation that will be so critical to the 21st century," Rubio said.

"Critical minerals, which is something no one talked about just 20 years ago, are now essential to all of the new technologies, all the innovations that are going to require for the 21st century, not just access to these minerals, but the ability to process and refine them to be usable goods is critical to the future for prosperity," he continued.

"Countries that are able to do that are going to be able to find economic independence and are going to be able to find themselves at the center of innovation in the 21st century, and those who lag behind are going to suffer for it," Rubio added.

Armenia and the United States signed the framework memorandum on mining and processing of critical minerals and rare-earth metals earlier today.