Mr. Tim Warman reports

FUERTE METALS BEGINS 40,000 M DRILLING PROGRAM AT THE COFFEE GOLD PROJECT

Fuerte Metals Corp. has commenced a 40,000-metre (m) drilling program at its Coffee gold project in Canada's Yukon. Coffee hosts 3.0 million ounces (oz) of gold in open-pit heap-leach measured and indicated resource and an inferred resource of 800,000 oz of gold. The drilling program will initially focus on infill drilling to convert a portion of the 800,000 oz of inferred gold resources to the indicated category, for inclusion in the feasibility study being carried out by G Mining Services and scheduled for completion in late 2026. Subsequent drilling will test other exploration targets on the property.

The Coffee gold project is located approximately 130 kilometres (km) south of Dawson in Canada's Yukon. The project is situated within the prolific Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT) and within the wider Tintina gold province, which hosts numerous multimillion-ounce deposits and producing mines, including Kinross's Fort Knox mine and Snowline's Valley deposit. The lack of glaciation in Yukon has allowed for the preservation of extensive oxide ore deposits, such as Coffee and the nearby Casino copper-gold deposit.

Tim Warman, chief executive officer of Fuerte Metals, stated: "The Coffee project has been a transformative acquisition for Fuerte and we are rapidly advancing the project towards a construction decision in early 2027. This drilling program is an integral part of that process and is aimed at building up the measured and indicated resource base for inclusion in the feasibility study currently under way. The program will begin at the Supremo Extension zone, which is currently one of the highest-grade portions of the Coffee deposit. Because Supremo Extension is a more recent discovery, the drilling density is lower and the bulk of the resource is currently classified as inferred, so an early goal of the drilling program is to convert a significant portion of that resource to the indicated category."

The Coffee project is on a clear path to complete permitting and has strong financial and technical partners with the vision to advance the project to production and build the next great Canadian gold producer. The company respectfully acknowledges that protection of the water and lands around the Coffee Creek and mine project area is of high importance to first nations and to Fuerte. Through co-operation, transparency, and respect, the company pledges to continue to build on relationships with Tr'ondek Hwech'in, White River First Nation, Selkirk First Nation and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, whose traditional territories overlap or partially overlap with the project access road, and areas where exploration and mining activities may occur. The company looks forward to advancing Coffee to production and building a new Canadian gold producer, creating significant shareholder value and benefitting Fuerte's stakeholders in Yukon and beyond.

Coffee project mineral resource estimate

The 2025 Coffee gold project mineral resource estimate (MRE) is summarized in table 1.

Resource conversion program

Resource conversion drilling will be initially focused on the Supremo Extension zone, which currently hosts an indicated resource of 2,437,000 t at 1.18 grams per tonne (g/t) for 92,000 oz gold (Au) and an inferred resource of 6,059,000 t at 1.72 g/t for 335,000 oz Au. The inferred grade is significantly higher than the 1.15 g/t Au grade of the overall Coffee resource estimate and thus provides a compelling target for converting high-grade ounces to the indicated category of the resource base.

Drilling has begun with two reverse circulation (RC) rigs, which are better suited for drilling in the early, colder part of the drill season. An additional three diamond drill rigs will be added to the project in June with the program continuing at least through September. Depending on results, the program may be expanded as the season progresses to follow up on positive drill intercepts.

Regional exploration program

On completion of the resource conversion phase of the program, the drilling will turn to testing of targets outside of the current resource base, both at Coffee and at other outlying targets defined by soil geochemistry and geophysical surveying. These targets include Latte (additional infill and extension), Deep Supremo (oxide extensions at depth), Cappuccino (early-stage drill target), Kazaar (early-stage drill target) and the large copper-gold soil anomaly at Sugar.

Qualified persons

Alan J. San Martin, PEng, and Charley Murahwi, PGeo, from Micon International Ltd., are the qualified persons (QPs), who prepared the Coffee gold project mineral resource estimate. Micon International is independent of Fuerte as defined by Section 1.5 of National Instrument 43-101. The 2025 Coffee technical report, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate Update on the Coffee Gold Project, Yukon, Canada," can be found on the company's website, as well as on SEDAR+.

Charlie Ronkos, MMSA, is Fuerte's executive vice-president, exploration, and the qualified person who has approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

About Fuerte Corp.

Fuerte is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on advancing high-potential precious metals and base metals projects across the Americas. The company's flagship asset is the 100-per-cent-owned Coffee project in the , Canada -- a high-quality gold project advancing through the final stages of permitting, engineering and resource expansion drilling in preparation for a construction decision. Coffee hosts 3.0 million ounces of open-pit heap-leach measured and indicated resource and an inferred resource of 800,000 ounces. The company respectfully acknowledges that protection of the water and lands around the Coffee Creek and mine project area is of high importance to first nations and to Fuerte. Through co-operation, transparency and respect, the company pledges to continue to build on relationships with Tr'ondek Hwech'in, White River First Nation, Selkirk First Nation and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, whose traditional territories overlap or partially overlap with the project access road, and areas where exploration and mining activities may occur. In addition to Coffee, Fuerte holds a portfolio of copper and gold assets, including the Placeton-Caballo Muerto project in Chile, and the Cristina and Yecora projects in Mexico, offering additional growth and exploration upside. At Fuerte, the company is committed to building value through disciplined project development, responsible stewardship of the land, a safety-focused culture and creating long-term returns for shareholders.

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