Negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the administration of US President Donald Trump on a possible agreement on minerals and security are in the early stages, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this Central African country, Therese Kaykwamba Wagner, UNN writes with reference to Bloomberg.
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In a letter sent last month, Congo offered the US exclusive access to critical minerals and infrastructure projects in exchange for security assistance. This is due to the need to counter the rebel movement, which receives support from neighboring Rwanda and operates in the eastern regions of the country, rich in minerals. Negotiations were partly inspired by a similar US proposal made to Ukraine, Wagner said in an interview on Thursday.
"I think it's something that still needs to mature, and both sides are certainly putting in the necessary time, but also the necessary effort to make sure that if there are any agreements that are adopted, they will be in the interests of both parties," she said.
US and the DRC are negotiating a deal on mineral resources - FT08.03.25, 11:00 • [views_17939]
Congo is the world's second-largest copper producer, the largest source of cobalt, and has large deposits of lithium, tantalum, tin and gold.
KoBold Metals Co., backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has expressed interest in lithium deposits in Congo, making it the first major investment proposal by a major US mining company.
The US and the EU have imposed sanctions on Rwanda for its role in the fighting, although Kigali denies supporting the rebels.