The race to secure critical minerals has become one of th e defining strategic competitions of our time — and Africa sits at its cen ter. The continent holds approximately 30% of the world's critical mineral reserves\, including minerals essential to global defense\, aerospace\, a nd clean energy supply chains — among them cobalt\, lithium\, graphite\, a nd the rare earth elements underpinning advanced manufacturing and the AI revolution. Yet despite this vast wealth\, Africa captures only 10% of the global revenue generated from these resources — a gap that represents bot h a challenge and an opportunity.
\n\nThe United States is moving urgently to change that calculus. Pr oject Vault — backed by a $10 billion EXIM Direct Loan — establishes a U.S . Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve designed to shield domestic manufact urers from supply shocks and strengthen America's critical minerals sector . Africa's resource wealth makes it an indispensable partner in this effor t.
\n\nThis dialogue will co nvene senior government and private sector leaders to explore how U.S.-Afr ica critical minerals partnerships can build secure\, transparent value ch ains — moving beyond extraction toward in-country processing\, refining\, and manufacturing. Panelists will examine how policy frameworks\, developm ent finance\, and private investment can de-risk projects\, promote respon sible sourcing\, and position critical minerals as a cornerstone of long-t erm U.S.-Africa strategic engagement.
BEGIN:VALARM UID:34336332-6532-4766-a634-623232663938 ACTION:DISPLAY DESCRIPTION:The race to secure critical minerals has become one of the defi ning strategic competitions of our time — and Africa sits at its center. T he continent holds approximately 30% of the world's critical mineral reser ves\, including minerals essential to global defense\, aerospace\, and cle an energy supply chains — among them cobalt\, lithium\, graphite\, and the rare earth elements underpinning advanced manufacturing and the AI revolu tion. Yet despite this vast wealth\, Africa captures only 10% of the globa l revenue generated from these resources — a gap that represents both a ch allenge and an opportunity. \n\nThe United States is moving urgently to c hange that calculus. Project Vault — backed by a $10 billion EXIM Direct L oan — establishes a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve designed to s hield domestic manufacturers from supply shocks and strengthen America's c ritical minerals sector. Africa's resource wealth makes it an indispensabl e partner in this effort. \n\nThis dialogue will convene senior governmen t and private sector leaders to explore how U.S.-Africa critical minerals partnerships can build secure\, transparent value chains — moving beyond e xtraction toward in-country processing\, refining\, and manufacturing. Pan elists will examine how policy frameworks\, development finance\, and priv ate investment can de-risk projects\, promote responsible sourcing\, and p osition critical minerals as a cornerstone of long-term U.S.-Africa strate gic engagement. TRIGGER:-PT15M END:VALARM END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR