Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi expresses readiness to partner with the U.S. on a minerals-for-security deal, intending to utilize the country’s rich mineral resources to bolster both U.S. companies and the African nation’s defense capabilities against armed groups like M23 rebels.
President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo expressed a willingness to collaborate with the United States on a minerals-for-security agreement. In an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Tshisekedi emphasized that this partnership would enable Congo to extract and refine essential minerals for American companies while simultaneously enhancing the nation’s defense and security capabilities.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is endowed with significant deposits of cobalt, lithium, and uranium and is currently contending with M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, who have taken control of substantial areas in the eastern part of the country this year. Tshisekedi’s proposal suggests that U.S. influence could play a crucial role in managing security challenges posed by armed groups in the region, emphasizing, “I think that the U.S. is able to use either pressure or sanctions to make sure that armed groups who are in the DRC can be kept at bay.”
In conclusion, President Tshisekedi’s call for a minerals-for-security deal with the United States highlights the Democratic Republic of Congo’s potential to leverage its mineral wealth for improved national security. The partnership aims to address the dual needs of U.S. companies for critical minerals and the Congolese government for enhanced defense capabilities against ongoing rebel threats. This collaboration underscores the intersection of mineral resources and geopolitical stability in the region.
Original Source: www.mining.com
