Why a US-DRC Minerals-for-Security Deal Could Backfire

Mar 24, 2025 | Cullen S. Hendrix
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In March 2025, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) approached the Trump administration with a high-stakes proposal: a deal that would grant American firms access to the African country’s critical mineral reserves in exchange for US military assistance. While such an agreement might appear attractive, it would come with substantial risks that echo past entanglements in complex and unstable regions. The US should instead focus on repairing relations with Canada, a critical mineral powerhouse, and engaging with countries like the DRC on economic and diplomatic terms rather than militarized ones.