Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has made a direct appeal to President Donald J. Trump with a historic proposal: assist in defeating the M23 rebel group terrorizing the region, and in return, the United States will gain exclusive access to one of the world’s richest untapped mineral reserves—valued at an estimated $24 trillion.
According to a letter obtained by The Wall Street Journal, President Tshisekedi extended an offer granting the U.S. exclusive mining opportunities through Trump’s newly launched U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, a key initiative aimed at securing global investments that prioritize American interests.
“Your election has ushered in the golden age for America,” Tshisekedi wrote. “Our partnership would provide the U.S. with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
This offer comes just days after President Trump unveiled his America First 2.0 economic policy, which includes reclaiming critical supply chains from adversaries like China. If accepted, the deal would shut China out of one of the world’s most crucial resource hubs, dealing a blow to Beijing’s stranglehold on the global minerals market.
While the Biden administration spent years prioritizing climate conferences and appeasing China, Trump’s hardline approach to energy independence and foreign policy is already yielding strategic opportunities. The DRC’s mineral wealth, estimated at over $20 trillion by the Panzi Foundation, includes resources vital for modern technology, from smartphones to defense systems.
In return for this mining partnership, Tshisekedi is requesting a formal U.S. security pact to help combat the M23 rebel group, which has seized control of mineral-rich territories. The group, backed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, has overwhelmed Congolese forces and U.N. peacekeepers, turning the region into a violent battleground.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the United Nations recently confirmed that Rwanda has deployed 4,000 troops to support M23 and has smuggled over 150 tons of coltan—an essential mineral for electronics and weapons systems—from rebel-controlled mines. Yet, the international community has remained largely silent.
Tshisekedi’s proposal offers the U.S. a rare opportunity to secure its strategic interests while helping to restore stability in a region long plagued by conflict. The decision now rests with President Trump, whose leadership has once again put America at the center of global economic and security negotiations.
