The Brookings report highlights that the United States relies on the world for 40 of the 50 critical minerals, essential for economy and security, and suggests that investments in mining in Africa can transform local economies and diversify American access to these resources.
In this series of blogs, opportunities for Africa and the United States to establish strong partnerships in critical minerals are examined. Africa can better position itself in this competitive global sector, as it has significant reserves and can advance up the value chain through industrialization. Recommendations are proposed to attract investment, such as accelerating mining operations and developing integrated infrastructure.
The critical minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine in 2025 offers lessons to Africa on sovereignty and participation in global value chains. Africa has vital minerals for the energy transition, but needs to improve structural transformation and local value addition. Ukraine’s integration into Western green value chains highlights the importance of balancing extractive relationships with local value addition.
