Mining Deals Explored In Exchange for U.S. Aid

"WASHINGTON -- President Trump is pressing for access to mineral rights across the globe, hoping to outduel China in a global competition for raw materials to fuel U.S. military and industrial might.

He has pushed the State Department to make mineral deals that would bolster U.S. industry and weapons, U.S. officials said. He has instructed the Pentagon to plan to refine metals on military bases and protect U.S.-operated mines in dangerous areas, the officials said.

Many of the countries where Trump is pursuing mining rights want something in return.

Ukraine suggested mineral access to Trump to secure U.S. support against Russia, but those negotiations sputtered after Trump demanded more from the Ukrainian economy. The Democratic Republic of Congo wants Washington's help against a rebel group and would provide access to mines to get it. And Denmark is floating mining contracts and military basing opportunities in hopes of rebuffing Trump's demand to own Greenland, part of its kingdom.

Senior officials including national security adviser Mike Waltz are leading the hunt for mining contracts. Massad Boulos, father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, is helping the administration get mining contracts as a senior adviser for African affairs. Trump wants the U.S. to better compete with the extractionary relationships China has established in regions including Africa and Latin America.

"Prioritizing critical minerals in our foreign policy not only helps power the American economy but also eliminates dependency on global competitors such as China," said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.

Trump's mineral zeal is a facet of a transactional foreign policy under which he is reluctant to give anything away without compensation, said a veteran of Trump's first administration who sought to convince him to provide more aid.

Before Trump's re-election, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reminded him of Ukraine's mineral wealth as a reason to continue supporting the country's fight against Russia, a person who attended the meeting said. Zelensky talked about the country's lithium and uranium, the person said. A Russian victory would put Ukraine's lithium and uranium at Russian President Vladimir Putin's command, Zelensky told Trump.

After Trump's re-election, he repeatedly said he was open to exchanging U.S. support for Ukraine's "rare earths," leading to draft arrangements presented through March. The latest proposal goes further. A plan presented in March would allow the U.S. to draw profits from Ukrainian projects across metals, oil, gas and other natural resources, as well as infrastructure projects including ports and pipelines.

Kyiv said it needs time to review the deal, angering an impatient Trump.

The DRC's president, Felix Tshisekedi, has offered mining opportunities for the U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund. He named an envoy who has invited U.S. officials to visit. A State Department advance team toured mines in the DRC this past week, said a person familiar with the visit. U.S. mining companies including KoBold, backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, have shown interest.

Tshisekedi wants the U.S. to help repel a Rwanda-backed rebel force, M23, in the DRC's east. The Trump administration put sanctions on a senior Rwandan leader and a top member of the group, but the DRC wants more support.

Boulos in March met separately with representatives from Rwanda and the DRC, hoping to negotiate a truce. The administration worries companies won't invest in the DRC if war continues, said people familiar with the situation said. Boulos recently visited the DRC, Rwanda and other countries in the region in pursuit of peace and U.S. investment opportunities, the State Department said." [1]

1.  World News: Mining Deals Explored In Exchange for U.S. Aid. Ward, Alexander; Dawsey, Josh.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 05 Apr 2025: A10.