U.S. Pushes New Critical Minerals Bloc to Counter China

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other government officials pose for a family photo on the day of the Critical Minerals Ministerial, at the State Department in Washington D.C., U.S., February 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The United States wants to build a new global critical minerals supply chain through a new alliance that aims to stabilize prices and reduce dependence on China.  Africa sits at the center of this shift, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where geopolitics is increasingly shaping mining deals and partnerships.

CGSP Africa Editor Géraud Neema joins Eric & Cobus to break down the U.S. proposal and why China’s dominance in refining and processing remains a major constraint, raising doubts about whether a minerals strategy focused mainly on extraction can succeed.

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