Modern Diplomacy published on 9 February 2026 an article titled "U.S. Tests China's Grip on African Minerals Ahead of Cape Town Indaba" by Sana Khan.
The US strategy for accessing African critical minerals relies on trading structures that steer African mineral output into US-aligned supply chains still dominated by Chinese refiners. Washington is seeking to influence mineral flows without replicating China's capital intensive, asset-heavy model. This approach reduces political and operational exposure but also limits control.
