Senior Congolese officials are set to visit Washington, D.C., for high-level talks on U.S.-DRC cooperation in strategic minerals, as announced by Aaron Poynton, President of the Africa-US Business Council.
In a letter to Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Poynton highlighted this visit as a key opportunity to strengthen economic ties and reshape U.S. engagement in the region.
A Push for Responsible Mining & Stronger U.S. Ties
Poynton is urging a direct meeting between Congolese leaders and Smith to outline strategies for:
✅ Responsible mining practices
✅ Stronger U.S.-DRC economic partnerships
✅ Enhanced U.S. national security
The talks may also set the stage for a future meeting with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, aligning both nations on strategic interests.
Countering China’s Influence in the DRC
A major focus of the discussions will be how U.S. businesses and policymakers can counter China’s growing grip on the DRC’s mining sector.
Joseph Mulala Nguramo, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, has accused China of exploiting African resources through corruption, poor governance, and human rights violations. He urged the U.S. to take a stronger stance against Beijing’s influence in the region.
“The U.S. strategy to counter China in Africa must be bipartisan and long-term,” Mulala said.
U.S. Steps Up Critical Mineral Production
Amid these tensions, the Trump administration has announced new measures to boost domestic production of critical minerals, including uranium, copper, potash, and gold—citing security threats tied to reliance on “hostile foreign powers.”
As competition for strategic minerals heats up, the upcoming U.S.-DRC talks could mark a turning point in U.S. policy, shaping a new era of economic and security partnerships in Africa’s mining sector.
