DRC Seeks U.S. Security Partnership in Exchange for Critical Mineral Access
In a March 19, 2025, interview with Fox News, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi confirmed his government’s interest in negotiating a security partnership with the United States in return for access to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) vast critical mineral resources.
“We are looking for partnerships and have established some with several countries. We believe that the United States, given its role and influence in the world, is an important partner for us.
We are happy to see that with the Trump administration, things are moving forward at a faster pace on both sides,” Tshisekedi told the network, which is known for its close ties to President Trump.
While Tshisekedi did not mention potential arms shipments or the deployment of U.S. troops in the DRC, lobbyists representing Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi—Chairman of the Senate’s Defense, Security, and Border Protection Committee—had previously raised this request with U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio.
Tshisekedi emphasized the opportunity for sustainable U.S. investment in mineral extraction and processing, highlighting its potential to create jobs and foster long-term stability.
He also noted plans to strengthen the Congolese army’s defense capabilities and expressed hope that U.S. sanctions and diplomatic pressure on armed groups could help stabilize conflict zones, thereby ensuring a secure environment for American investors.
Just days before Tshisekedi’s interview, U.S. Special Envoy Ronny Jackson visited the DRC on March 16, meeting with the Congolese president in Kinshasa. Jackson’s visit came amid escalating violence in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—have seized control of key cities, including Goma and Bukavu.
“The DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected by all. We will work to remove obstacles to peace so that stability can return to the DRC,” Jackson stated, according to the Congolese presidency.
“Our goal is to ensure that American companies can come, invest, and work in the DRC. And to do that, we need to ensure a peaceful environment.”
Tshisekedi’s push for closer U.S. ties comes at a time of intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing, with China currently controlling nearly 80% of DRC’s mining sector.
The DRC’s mineral wealth—estimated at $24 trillion by the World Bank—has made it a strategic focal point in the global race for critical resources.
While the U.S. seeks to strengthen its foothold in the country, the DRC has also signed agreements with other international partners, including the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and Japan—potentially complicating Washington’s ambitions.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern DRC continue. On March 17, Qatar facilitated a meeting between Presidents Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame of Rwanda in an attempt to ease tensions.
Following his visit to the DRC, Jackson traveled to neighboring Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), where he met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
According to Chinese state media, Nguesso urged Jackson to mediate in the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute, underscoring the broader geopolitical stakes at play in Africa’s mineral-rich Great Lakes region.
