The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is engaged in ongoing discussions with the U.S. government in an effort to establish a minerals-for-security agreement, according to Congolese officials.

This initiative comes at a time of heightened conflict in the country’s east, where the M23 rebel group has seized mineral-rich territories containing gold and coltan—an essential component in electronic manufacturing.

Since January, the violence has claimed at least 7,000 lives, with thousands more displaced, according to DRC government reports.

Although no formal proposal has been presented, Congolese lawmakers appear hopeful that such a deal could lead to U.S. military intervention in exchange for access to key mineral resources. However, analysts question whether this aligns with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” stance, speculating that Washington would likely favor supplying military aid rather than committing troops.

“A more plausible outcome would be the U.S. providing military equipment rather than deploying personnel,” said Daniel van Dalen, a senior analyst at the security intelligence firm Signal Risk.

Why Now?

Observers suggest the DRC is looking to emulate a U.S. proposal for Ukraine, which involves Kyiv offering a 50% stake in its mineral revenues in exchange for sustained American financial and security support.

Andre Wameso, deputy chief of staff to DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, reportedly visited Washington earlier this month to explore a similar arrangement. However, DRC officials have yet to disclose specifics about the discussions.

Like Ukraine, the DRC seeks strategic partnerships to combat armed groups, including M23 and over 100 other militias controlling valuable mining areas. The country is one of the world’s top producers of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold—collectively known as 3TG—used in electronics, defense systems, and electric vehicles. DRC’s untapped mineral wealth is estimated at a staggering $24 trillion.