US expresses its desire to expand its investment in Liberia
(MENAFN) The United States has discussed expanding its involvement in Liberia, including increased participation in the West African nation’s critical minerals industry, the State Department said Friday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti in Washington on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
“The meeting explored avenues for expanding US participation in Liberia’s critical minerals sector with the aim of creating jobs and economic growth in both the United States and Liberia,” he stated.
Rubio praised the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government development agency, which in 2021 finalized a $257 million compact with Liberia for electricity and road projects.
Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic and a commodity-reliant economy exporting iron ore and rubber, is seeking increased investment in mining and infrastructure following discoveries of uranium, lithium, cobalt, manganese, and neodymium.
Earlier this year, Liberian President Joseph Boakai projected the country could attract $3 billion in investment from the new mineral finds, identified through decades of studies funded by China.
In July, US President Donald Trump hosted Boakai and four other African leaders at the White House to discuss economic partnerships.
However, Liberian civil rights activist Emmanuel Gonquoi described the talks as a “colonial package” that reframes imperialism as economic cooperation, asserting that Trump is more focused on exploiting Africa’s resources than building genuine partnerships.
The US has faced scrutiny over its pursuit of critical-mineral deals in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Trump has said a US-mediated security agreement would give Washington access to cobalt and copper in exchange for support in ending conflict between Kinshasa and rebels—arrangements analysts warn could raise transparency and sovereignty concerns.
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