After years of largely unchallenged control over the DR Congo’s critical minerals, China now faces growing US competition – a battle that Beijing is determined to win…The US reportedly pressured the Democratic Republic of Congo last year to block a Chinese firm from acquiring Chemaf Resources…Now, a US consortium – including firms led by ex-military executives – has bid for the operator of the Etoile copper-cobalt mine. Meanwhile, KoBold Metals, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, secured a deal with the DR Congo to explore the Manono lithium deposit, despite an ongoing legal dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals…The deals come shortly after a US-brokered “minerals-for-security” agreement between the DR Congo and Rwanda, signed last month to help end the decades-long conflict in the eastern Congo. It aims to secure peace and stability, and in return the United States and its companies will gain access to critical minerals essential for the green energy transition and advanced technologies…China, deeply entrenched in Congo’s mining sector, is pushing back, with its ambassador reaffirming Beijing’s non-interference policy and commitment to supporting the central African country…Outlining China’s commitment to its diplomatic principle of non-interference in internal affairs, Zhao said that Beijing had leveraged its strengths to provide Congo with practical and effective support, including military aid, economic assistance and trade cooperation. This, he said, offered strong guarantees for the Congolese side to effectively address its crises…“The US is catching up on its critical mineral vulnerability and it will have to vigorously push for more assets and security in its supply chain,” Sun said…These deals underscore the intensifying US-China competition for critical minerals in the DR Congo, the world’s second-biggest copper producer and largest source of cobalt, as Washington seeks to secure critical minerals for its green transition. Copper and cobalt are critical minerals used in electric-vehicle batteries and military equipment…Chinese companies are heavily embedded in the DR Congo’s mining sector, having secured several of the country’s key assets in the past decade as Western countries ceded many of these interests to China…Among their acquisitions was the sale by US-based Freeport-McMoran of two of the world’s largest cobalt assets – the Tenke Fungurume mine and Kisanfu project – to CMOC, formerly China Molybdenum Co, in 2016 and 2020, respectively…Chris Berry, head of US-based commodities advisory firm House Mountain Partners, said the view on critical minerals in Washington had significantly shifted under the Trump administration…“Rather than a focus on ESG or ‘green growth’ the focus is now on national defence and self-sufficiency in critical mineral access,” Berry said, using the acronym for “environmental, social and governance” factors.

The Trump administration is spearheading an ambitious, but controversial, peace initiative aimed at ending the long-running conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has also drawn in neighbouring Rwanda…Its mediation efforts come as no surprise, as DR Congo - a nation in the heart of Africa - is endowed with the mineral wealth that the US requires to power the IT, and now AI, revolutions, much of which is currently going to China…However, he noted that "in DR Congo, China has already snapped up many of the minerals so the US is playing catch-up"…DR Congo could find itself locked into deals for years, in exchange for vague guarantees of security, she said…This was reminiscent of the "resource-bartering" deals pursued by China and Russia in numerous African states, Prof Mostert added…The US State Department said in 2023 that DR Congo had an estimated $25trn (£21.2trn) in mineral reserves…This included cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum - needed to make the electronic components used in computers, electric vehicles, mobile phones, wind turbines and military hardware…"For how long will DR Congo have to give its cobalt to US investors? Will it be 20 years or 50 years? What is the price for peace?" Prof Mostert asked…DR Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed to the BBC's Newsday programme in March that his country wanted to supply the US with "some critical minerals" in exchange for a security deal…"We're getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it," Trump said, ahead of the peace deal signed by representatives of the two governments on 27 June in Washington…Under the peace deal, DR Congo and Rwanda agreed to launch a "security co-ordination mechanism" within 30 days of the 27 June deal…Mr Verelst said that a ceasefire was expected to take effect on Tuesday, followed by the DR Congo government and the M23 signing a comprehensive peace agreement by 18 August, building on the "declaration of principles" they had already negotiated.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced the creation of a new commission to map and control the country’s critical minerals, aiming to keep these resources under national ownership as global competition for them heats up…Only about 30% of Brazil’s mineral-rich territory has been fully explored. The government wants to identify how much lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and nickel Brazil holds—essential metals for electric cars, batteries, and renewable energy systems…Lula emphasized that these minerals belong to the Brazilian people and will not be used as bargaining chips in international trade…Brazilian officials stated that only licensed companies can sell the minerals, and sales must go through the government. The backdrop is a global race for secure sources of critical minerals…As countries move rapidly toward clean energy, the demand for these materials is growing fast…In early 2025, nearly 80% of the country’s trade surplus came from minerals…It is also offering incentives for companies to add more value to raw minerals within the country, rather than simply exporting them…As the world races for cleaner energy, who owns and manages these resources will shape global technology and trade.