By Lynn, Editor-in-Chief, WeCU Media
Published March 1, 2025
Tensions exploded at the White House on February 28, 2025, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed over military aid, Congo vs. Ukraine minerals, and BRICS strategy. Zelenskiy demanded unwavering U.S. support against Russia, while Trump, driven by his ‘America First’ stance, questioned Ukraine commitments, eyeing a Congo vs. Ukraine minerals deal. Their fiery Oval Office exchange—captured on camera—exposed global divisions: Should the U.S. deepen Ukraine’s war or pivot to Congo vs. Ukraine’s BRICS challenge? At WeCU Media, we see you want to know the stakes.
A Tale of Two Mineral Deals: DR Congo’s Offer vs. Zelenskiy’s Demands - Congo vs. Ukraine for Mineral Deals
The global race for minerals is heating up, but Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are taking opposite paths. Trump canceled a proposed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal—covering titanium, lithium, and graphite—after Zelenskiy insisted on full U.S. military protection against Russia, risking deeper U.S. entanglement.
Meanwhile, the DRC is signaling openness. Posts on X and reports suggest Congo’s leadership is offering its vast reserves—cobalt (70% of global), lithium, and copper—in exchange for U.S. security against regional threats, like Rwandan-backed militias. Unlike Ukraine, Congo prioritizes economic partnership over military commitments, positioning itself as a potential U.S. ally.
Congo’s Strategic Play: Challenging China’s Belt and Road and BRICS
The DRC holds some of the world’s richest mineral deposits, critical for tech and energy. Historically, China has dominated Congo’s mining via its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), securing supply chains through firms like CMOC Group. But a U.S.-DRC deal could disrupt China’s grip, steering African nations toward Western ties—or deeper into BRICS.
BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (expanded in 2024)—aims to counter Western dominance, with China pushing de-dollarization to challenge the U.S. dollar’s global role. At the 2024 Kazan Summit, BRICS leaders proposed local currency trade (65% of BRICS trade now, down from the dollar’s 90% dominance) and a potential “Unit” currency, raising U.S. concerns. China sees BRICS as a tool for economic clout, aligning with BRI’s $21.7 billion in African investments (2023) for ports, railways, and renewables.
In Africa, 40 of 53 nations have joined BRI, with leaders like Congo’s seeing BRICS as economic growth, per Russian Ambassador Iskandarov’s 2024 comments. But critics warn China’s strategy—debt-heavy deals securing resources—could trap nations, per X posts showing mixed African sentiment: some cheer BRICS as “empowerment,” others fear “new colonialism.” A U.S.-DRC deal could offer an alternative, but Congo’s BRICS interest suggests it may balance East and West, per reports.
Zelenskiy’s Standoff: Minerals Tied to Military Guarantees
Zelenskyy demands a U.S. minerals deal only with full military backing against Russia, risking U.S. involvement in a broader conflict. Ukraine’s reserves (lithium, titanium, graphite) are valuable but dwarfed by Congo’s scale—cobalt, copper, and lithium production, per data obtained from Bloomberg. Russia’s occupation of 25% of Ukraine’s lithium complicates access, while Putin’s threats make U.S. mining riskier unless war escalates.
The Bigger Picture: U.S. Strategy Amid Global Rivalries
Congo’s offer could strengthen U.S. resource security and counter China’s expansion, per X posts cheering Trump’s pivot. Ukraine’s demands, however, could draw the U.S. deeper into military commitments, straining budgets and risking conflict. As global tensions rise—China’s BRI, BRICS’s de-dollarization, and Africa’s economic rise—the question remains: Will the U.S. seize Congo’s economic opportunity, or double down on Ukraine’s military demands?
WeCU Media is watching—and we see you want to know how these high-stakes moves will shape the world.