The United States has begun exploratory discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo on a potential agreement exchanging access to critical minerals for military support, according to officials and diplomatic correspondence.
Congo approached Washington with a proposal offering US companies extraction rights to minerals including cobalt and uranium in return for support against M23 rebels who have seized mineral-rich territory in the country’s east.
The central African nation holds an estimated $24 trillion in untapped resources, including the world’s largest cobalt reserves, crucial for electric vehicle batteries and defense applications.
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A letter sent to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by Dr. Aaron Poynton of the Africa-USA Business Council on behalf of Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi proposed a comprehensive mineral and security partnership.
The proposed deal would involve granting US companies extraction rights to secure minerals for defense and technology sectors, developing the Banana Deep-Water Port with American oversight, establishing a joint strategic mineral stockpile, and enhancing military cooperation.
The military aspects include training Congolese forces to protect mineral supply routes, granting US access to strategic military bases, and “replacing ineffective UN peacekeeping operations with direct US-Congo security cooperation,” according to the letter.
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Chinese companies currently dominate Congo’s mining sector, with most major extraction projects under their control. The letter to Rubio cited a “recent policy shift from President Tshisekedi” as presenting “a rare opportunity for the US to establish a direct and ethical supply chain” to counter China’s influence.
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The letter, dated February 21 and received by the US Justice Department on February 27, also highlighted security concerns, stating that “on January 22, 2025, hostile forces seized 10% of Congolese territory, targeting the highest-value mineral deposits.”
The US State Department acknowledged the discussions but said there was “nothing to preview or announce at this time,” while a White House spokesperson declined to comment on the negotiations.
Mining analyst Jean-Pierre Okenda said parliamentary oversight would be essential for any deal, noting that previous minerals-for-infrastructure agreements with China failed to deliver promised benefits.
Poynton and Senator Kalambayi proposed “an urgent high-level visit for President Félix Tshisekedi to meet with key US leaders in Washington” and encouraged “President Trump’s direct involvement in these discussions” to secure congressional backing for the agreement.
Indigo Ellis, managing director at JS Held, told Financial Times that the proposal “reads like an act of desperation,” adding it may be Congo officials “scrambling to come up with things that might appeal to the US” as Tshisekedi’s position weakens amid rebel advances.
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