The importance and uneven distribution, non renewability, scarcity, and irreplaceability of key mineral resources in the context of global green transformation were discussed, leading to supply chain security risks and the "green game" among major powers. Africa, as an important supplier of key minerals, occupies a significant position in the global supply chain and has become a focus of competition among major powers. The United States heavily relies on imports for key minerals, with Africa becoming a key strategic focus. At the same time, Africa is also an important source of supply for China's key minerals, and the United States' increased offensive on key minerals in Africa poses a challenge to China's supply security. Academic research on key mineral policies in the United States often analyzes them from a historical and macro perspective, lacking a systematic review of US policies in Africa. This article aims to elucidate the motivations, directions, and impacts of the United States' key mineral policies in Africa on Africa, China, and the world.

An analysis of the motives behind the United States' key mineral policies in Africa

The analysis of the motives behind the United States' policy on key minerals in Africa points out that the US economy, technology, and defense security are highly dependent on the supply security of key minerals, and Africa has become an important source of supply for the United States due to its abundant mineral resources. Key minerals are crucial to the economic security, technological progress, and national defense of the United States. The United States actively expands its supply sources globally and strengthens supply chain stability. Africa holds an important position in the global mineral resource landscape due to its diversity of mineral resources and reserve advantages, which have profound strategic implications for global economic development and national security. In the game between China and the United States, key mineral competition has become an important component. The United States regards technological competition as one of the key means to "win over China", and China's expansion of key mineral businesses in Africa is seen by the United States as an important challenge to itself.

The main direction of the US policy on non critical minerals

The main directions of the United States' policy on key minerals in Africa include: a high dependence on key minerals and making this issue a priority of its policy towards Africa; Gradually repair US Africa relations and strengthen key mineral diplomacy; Enhance investment in infrastructure and technology in key mineral industries in Africa, and promote African countries to open up their key mineral industries to the United States; Maintaining an advantage in the game between China and the United States, using norms and discourse as "weapons" to regulate the behavior of Chinese companies in Africa, and rendering the "China threat" to weaken China's influence in Africa. The Biden administration has adjusted its policy towards Africa, strengthened key mineral diplomacy, and several senior officials have visited key mineral producing countries in Africa to participate in the African Mining Investment Conference and promote cooperation between the United States and Africa in key mineral resources. The United States strengthens cooperation with African countries through multilateral diplomatic occasions such as the Energy and Resources Governance Initiative, promoting responsible mineral governance and supply chain construction. The United States is increasing its investment in infrastructure and technology in Africa, attracting African countries to open up their mineral industries to American companies, and reducing its intention to cooperate with China. The United States mobilizes relevant agencies to propose cooperation initiatives to meet the infrastructure and technological needs of key mineral industries in Africa, and strengthen control over the global key mineral market. The United States is promoting the "Lobito Corridor" project to enhance the technological capabilities of African countries and improve the efficiency of key mineral processing and refining. The United States uses norms and "discourse weapons" to lead the "standard construction" of key mineral industries in Africa and expand its "long arm jurisdiction" over non Chinese enterprises. The US Congress has proposed a bill to promote "standard building", establish "mineral security partnerships" with Western allies, enhance environmental, social, and governance standards, strengthen transparency, accountability, and traceability of key mineral supply chains. The United States exaggerates the "China threat" through public opinion attacks, shapes an unfavorable international public opinion environment for China, and weakens the trust and willingness of African countries to cooperate with China.

Analysis of the Impact of Three US Policies on Key Mineral Resources in Africa

The United States' key mineral policies in Africa have far-reaching impacts on Africa, China, and the world. For Africa, US investment may promote economic development in the short term, but in the long run, it may affect the industrialization process due to investment instability and political terms. For China, US policies increase the operating costs of Chinese companies, threaten supply security, and squeeze their presence in Africa. At the global level, US policies disrupt supply chain stability, promote anti globalization, and threaten sustainable development. US investment fuels resource nationalism in Africa, threatens China's supply security, and changes the aid landscape through infrastructure investment, competing with China. The US policy promotes the "factionalization" of the supply chain, distorts market mechanisms, hinders the development of an open economy, and undermines global green cooperation.

Four concluding remarks

Emphasis was placed on the strategic importance of the United States' key mineral policies in Africa, particularly in curbing China's influence in this field. The Trump administration may increase its focus on Africa during its second term, but it is more inclined towards short-term benefits. China should adjust its strategy, including tracking international policies, regulating compliant development of enterprises, deepening China Africa mineral cooperation, and upgrading the China Africa partnership, to respond to changes in US policies, reduce potential losses, and promote the green transformation of key mineral supplies in Africa.