DRC Offers Exclusive Minerals Deal to US Amid Security Concerns
The Democratic Republic of Congo proposed to the US exclusive access to its minerals in exchange for security assistance to combat rebellion supported by Rwanda. This partnership aims to benefit US companies and reduce Chinese influence in the DRC. However, previous attempts at cooperation have faced significant hurdles, including concerns over military support and human rights violations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has put forth a proposal to the United States, offering exclusive access to its crucial minerals and infrastructure projects, according to a report by Bloomberg. In exchange, the DRC seeks security assistance to address a rebellion allegedly supported by Rwanda. The DRC’s letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes the urgency of a meeting between President Felix Tshisekedi and President Donald Trump.
This proposed agreement aims to afford US companies privileged access to minerals vital for the global shift toward renewable energy. Currently, the DRC’s mining sector, which serves as a significant source of copper, is predominantly influenced by Chinese companies. Establishing a partnership with the United States would allow the DRC to diversify its economic relationships and diminish China’s dominance.
The proposal encompasses operational control for US firms as well as exclusive rights for extraction and export. Additionally, it envisions participation in a deep-water port project and the establishment of a jointly managed strategic mineral stockpile. In return for these economic benefits, the US would provide military training, equipment, and direct security assistance, including access to military bases to safeguard strategic resources.
A US-Africa business group representing the DRC articulated in the letter, “As the world’s largest supplier of cobalt and a major producer of lithium, tantalum, and uranium, the DRC’s resources are integral to US industrial competitiveness and national security.” The US State Department has expressed its willingness to discuss potential partnerships in the mining sector to bolster the economies of both nations.
However, the realization of this deal faces uncertainties, especially given past challenges encountered under the Biden administration regarding US companies’ engagement with DRC’s mineral wealth due to corruption, environmental, and labor concerns. Furthermore, the US has typically been reluctant to support the DRC’s military, which has been implicated in human rights abuses.
Joshua Walker, Director of Programs for the Congo Research Group at New York University, highlighted the complexities inherent in renegotiating mining contracts and the ambiguity surrounding the Trump administration’s ability to mobilize American investors. Additionally, the commitment of the new administration to address Rwandan aggression in the DRC remains uncertain.
The letter, sent by lobbyist Aaron Poynton on behalf of Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, chair of the Congolese Senate’s Committee on Defence, Security, and Border Protection, was disclosed on the Foreign Agents Registration Act website. Similar correspondences were sent to other influential US officials, pointing to the DRC’s ambitions for a minerals-for-security arrangement. In February 2025, the DRC initiated a state monopoly to regulate the production and export of artisanal cobalt.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has proposed a minerals-for-security deal with the United States, emphasizing the need for exclusive access to its mineral resources. In return, Congo seeks military assistance to combat regional instability. While the proposal could enhance US energy interests and bolster the DRC’s economy, its actualization is fraught with uncertainties stemming from past dealings, human rights concerns, and the shifting political landscape.
Original Source: www.mining-technology.com
