As US foreign aid dwindles, a new trend in global diplomacy is emerging: impoverished nations are offering their valuable natural resources to American corporations in exchange for political and military support, brokered by lobbyists with close ties to Donald Trump. This transactional approach marks a significant departure from traditional aid models, raising alarms among watchdog groups.
Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, and Yemen, among the world’s least developed, are at the forefront of this shift. Faced with reduced US assistance, they are engaging high-profile lobbying firms linked to the former administration, such as Ballard Partners and BGR Government Affairs, to secure influence in Washington. Millions of dollars are being spent, with contracts often escalating into the tens of millions.
The allure for American businesses lies in critical minerals. The DRC, for instance, is reportedly prepared to offer rights to its vast reserves of lithium, cobalt, and coltan, essential components for modern technology, in return for crucial political and military backing from the United States. This direct exchange of resources for leverage highlights the desperate measures these nations are taking.
Emily Stewart of Global Witness criticizes this “resource diplomacy,” arguing that the reduced availability of humanitarian funding puts these vulnerable countries at a severe disadvantage. She warns that such deals could lead to exploitative terms, where nations are pressured to surrender control over their irreplaceable natural assets under duress.