U.S. Expands African Partnerships to Counter China's Mineral Dominance

The United States government is expanding strategic partnerships across Africa to diminish reliance on China, which currently controls approximately 60% of global rare earth extraction and 85% of processing capacity. The U.S. currently imports roughly 70% of its rare earth elements from China, a dependency the State Department identifies as a national security threat.

To counter this dominance, the Trump administration is prioritizing infrastructure investments, including a $550 million loan for the Lobito Corridor. This 800-mile rail link connects the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to the Atlantic coast of Angola. The administration is also utilizing a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to improve access to strategic mining projects.

U.S. efforts are focused on securing new mineral sources in Tanzania, Angola, Malawi, South Africa, and Namibia. According to the African Union Minerals Development Center, new mines in these regions could yield 10% of the global supply by 2029. The strategy aims to ensure that national defense and economic stability are no longer dependent on Chinese supply chains, which the State Department claims exploit natural resources and undermine regional stability.