Trump Threatens to Do Something Horrible in Africa Unless He Gets a Deal on Precious Minerals

"According to the New York Times, a memo drafted by the State Department outlines a plan to hold lifesaving HIV medication hostage if the south African country of Zambia refuses to meet its geopolitical terms. Though the exact demands haven't been made public, the plan involves withholding some $115 million in support for vital HIV treatment programs, unless the Zambian government gives US companies more access to its vast mineral wealth."

"The language of the Zambia memo, prepared for Marco Rubio and viewed by the NYT, makes the Trump administration's intentions clear: 'we will only secure our priorities by demonstrating willingness to publicly take support away from Zambia on a massive scale.' According to a 2025 fact sheet, US aid supported treatment for 98 percent of Zambians afflicted with HIV - a little over 1.3 million people."

"The Trump administration, in practice, is threatening to cut off that lifeline in order to secure access to one of the world's richest copper deposits, which it can only access with consent from the Zambian government. Yet according to the latest UN data, only 31 percent of Zambia's mineral exports are bound for China - Switzerland is a much larger benefactor, accounting for 62 percent of the African nations' unrefined copper trade."

The Trump administration has developed a strategy to leverage lifesaving HIV medication as a bargaining tool against Zambia. A State Department memo proposes withholding approximately $115 million in support for HIV treatment programs unless the Zambian government grants US companies greater access to its mineral resources, particularly copper. This aid currently supports treatment for 98 percent of Zambians living with HIV, approximately 1.3 million people. The administration's stated rationale includes limiting Chinese economic influence in the region, though data shows Switzerland accounts for 62 percent of Zambia's unrefined copper exports compared to only 31 percent for China. The memo explicitly indicates willingness to publicly withdraw support on a massive scale to achieve geopolitical objectives.

Read at Futurism