Donald Trump Is on a Mining Offensive in DR Congo - Jacobin

The Trump administration is intensifying engagement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on mining access, signaling a geopolitical shift in how Washington approaches Africa's critical mineral supply chains. This aggressive posture reflects deeper anxieties about US dependence on Chinese-controlled mineral processing and comes as cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements become essential to the energy transition and defense manufacturing.

The DRC produces approximately 70% of the world's cobalt and over 50% of its copper. These metals are non-negotiable inputs for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, and military electronics. Currently, much of DRC's raw ore flows to China for processing, leaving the US vulnerable to supply disruptions and price manipulation. Trump's mining offensive aims to redirect material flows toward American interests—either through direct US investment or through strategic alliances with allied Western miners already operating in Congo.

## Why is the DRC suddenly central to US strategy?

The shift reflects a collision of three pressures: the geopolitical decoupling from China, accelerated EV adoption creating unprecedented demand, and the recognition that African nations—particularly resource-rich ones like the DRC—are no longer passive suppliers. Both Washington and Beijing are competing aggressively for long-term supply agreements and mining concessions. The DRC's new mining code, updated in 2023, offers higher royalties to the Congolese state but also creates opportunity for Western investors willing to negotiate at scale.

## What are the practical implications for investors?

American and allied mining companies already active in the DRC—such as Glencore (which holds major cobalt positions) and smaller US-backed explorers—may benefit from diplomatic tailwinds and potential government-backed financing. However, investors must navigate substantial risks: political volatility, artisanal mining competition driving informal supply channels, environmental regulations that are increasingly stringent, and growing Congolese nationalism around resource sovereignty. The DRC government, under President Félix Tshisekedi, is deliberately leveraging competition between superpowers to extract better terms—rejecting the passive extractive model of the past.

## How might this reshape African agency?

This is the underreported story. The DRC is not a passive prize but an active negotiator. Congo's leverage is structural: no cobalt, no clean energy transition. Tshisekedi has already diversified partnerships, signing agreements with South Korea, the EU, and India. A Trump-era mining push could accelerate DRC's demands for value-added processing on Congolese soil—rather than exporting raw ore—and greater local employment and equity stakes. This reshapes the entire regional supply chain.

Market implications are immediate: mining equities with DRC exposure may see volatility if negotiations stall, but long-term contract certainty could unlock investment cycles worth billions. Copper and cobalt prices, already sensitive to supply rhetoric, will remain volatile through 2025 as deals are announced and geopolitical signals shift.

---

##