Facilitating market development across the IADB

The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) is an international organisation made up of 28 member countries that aim to provide technical and advisory support on defence and security issues within the Western Hemisphere. Established in 1942, the IADB promotes peace, security, and cooperation among its member states. It operates under the Organization of American States (OAS) umbrella. In recent years, the IADB has focused on critical minerals, policy, and the energy transition. The IADB consists of member states from across the Americas, each contributing to and benefiting from the collective security and defence initiatives, sharing resources, and strengthening regional stability and cooperation. The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) is currently led by Lieutenant General Flávio Luiz de Oliveira Pinto of the Brazilian Air Force. The main lines of action for the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) include enhancing cybersecurity, disaster cooperation, and international collaboration. They focus on humanitarian demining, managing migratory flows and weapons, and developing defence white papers. Additionally, the IADB promotes women, peace, and security, integrates new technologies, protects the environment, and ensures maritime, air, and land security. The IADB's engagement in this area is crucial given the immense demand for these minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies like electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Developing countries within the IADB's membership, which are rich in these resources, face unique opportunities and challenges. Properly managed, these resources can spur job creation, economic diversification, and revenue growth.