Trump's Africa Policy Focuses on Mineral Extraction and Military Intervention

Trump's Africa Policy Focuses on Mineral Extraction and Military Intervention

Hitting the Fast Lane:

The US, DR Congo (DRC), and Zambia have joined forces to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry. In 2022, under President Joe Biden, they signed a groundbreaking deal to develop a self-sustaining EV battery supply chain. This wasn't just about obtaining minerals, but about helping African nations riseup the value chain.

Biden wagered that American capital, technology, and standards could outshine the competition.

This tripartite alliance has since gained momentum, with an emphasis on bolstering infrastructure and raising the value chain. The Group of Seven (G7) even pledged support for the project in 2023.

The Lobito Corridor, a multi-billion dollar railway project linking Angola’s Atlantic coast with the DRC and Zambia’s mineral-rich regions, plays a crucial role in this endeavor. It's backed by a Western consortium, aiming to beat China’s Belt and Road Initiative at its own game.

The ultimate goal is to establish a regional EV battery production hub, primarily on the border of DRC and Zambia. This hub will process minerals domestically and manufacture higher-value components like battery precursors.

Strategic partnerships with the EU, African Development Bank, and other financiers came into play in 2023. They helped transfer technology and promote sustainable mining practices, driving these nations towards advanced manufacturing beyond raw extraction.

By focusing on value addition, the initiative aims to transform DRC and Zambia from raw material suppliers to players in higher-margin sectors such as cathode production and cell assembly.

1. President Joe Biden betting on American capital, technology, and standards to outshine the competition in the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry.
2. The tripartite alliance between the US, DR Congo (DRC), and Zambia, which focuses on bolstering infrastructure and raising the value chain in EV battery production.
3. The Group of Seven (G7) offering support for the EV battery project in 2023, as part of the tripartite alliance's effort to establish a regional EV battery production hub.
4. The Lobito Corridor, a major railway project linking Angola’s Atlantic coast with the DRC and Zambia’s mineral-rich regions, playing a crucial role in the endeavor to beat China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
5. The initiative's ultimate goal is to transform DRC and Zambia from raw material suppliers to players in higher-margin sectors such as cathode production and cell assembly, through value addition.
6. Strategic partnerships with the EU, African Development Bank, and other financiers in 2023, which helped transfer technology and promote sustainable mining practices, driving these nations towards advanced manufacturing beyond raw extraction.

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