WASHINGTON: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has approached the United States with a proposal granting American companies exclusive access to its critical minerals in exchange for security assistance, as Kinshasa battles a rebel insurgency in its resource-rich eastern region.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Congolese officials are seeking an agreement that would grant exploration rights to the US in return for bolstering support for President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.
The country is home to vast reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, and uranium—minerals crucial for advanced technologies and the global energy transition.
The Financial Times reported that Kinshasa’s outreach comes as Tshisekedi faces mounting security challenges from the M23 rebels, which has seized control of mineral-rich territories as well as the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told the Financial Times that “the DRC is endowed with a significant share of the world’s critical minerals required for advanced technologies,” adding that Washington remains “open to discussing partnerships in this sector.”
Formal appeal for US support
In a formal appeal, the Congolese government has sent letters to senior US officials proposing an arrangement similar to the Trump administration’s now-defunct minerals-for-security deal with Ukraine.
A letter sent to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seen on the Foreign Agents Registration Act website, requests an urgent meeting between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Donald Trump to negotiate a potential pact.
The letter was submitted by the Africa-USA Business Council on behalf of Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, chair of the Congolese Senate’s Committee on Defence, Security and Border Protection.
“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 business group stated in the letter.
The proposed partnership, it said, “presents a unique opportunity for the United States to establish a reliable and exclusive supply chain.”
Under the proposed deal, the DRC would grant US companies operational control, exclusive extraction and export rights, and involvement in a planned deep-water port on its Atlantic coast.
Additionally, a joint strategic mineral stockpile would be established. In return, Washington would provide training and equipment for the Congolese armed forces, along with direct security assistance and access to military bases to safeguard strategic resources.
Geopolitical implications
Despite the Congolese government’s push, analysts suggest that securing a deal with Washington will be complex.
Joshua Walker, Programme Director for the Congo Research Group at New York University’s Centre on International Cooperation, told the Financial Times that “this would likely involve lengthy, tricky renegotiations of mining contracts, while it is difficult to see the Trump administration being able to mobilise US investors.”
Moreover, it remains uncertain whether Washington will commit significant resources to countering M23 rebels in the DRC.
Previous US administrations, including that of Joe Biden, struggled to attract American firms to invest in the country due to concerns over corruption, environmental issues, and labour rights violations.
China currently dominates the DRC’s mining industry, particularly in cobalt and copper extraction. The Congolese government hopes a partnership with Washington would allow it to “shift away from China’s dominant influence and strengthen economic ties with the West,” the Africa-USA Business Council noted in its lobbying efforts.
US response and political considerations
The Trump administration has signalled openness to the proposal, with the US State Department stating in an email to the Financial Times that “partnerships with US companies will strengthen both US and DRC economies.”
However, negotiations remain at an early stage, and there is no indication of immediate commitments from Washington.
