The Democratic Republic of Congo has sent a high-level delegation to the United States in an effort to accelerate ongoing negotiations between the two parties regarding a strategic agreement that goes beyond the economic aspect to include security cooperation, according to Radio France Internationale.

President Félix Tshisekedi made this agreement one of his priorities during his participation in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he held multiple meetings, including one with White House Africa advisor Masad Pauls.

While previous talks focused on the strategic minerals file, Kinshasa now seeks to include a security clause in the agreement, in line with U.S. laws that consider protecting supply chains in this sector a matter of national security.

According to information, the Congolese delegation includes 9 members, among them security experts and military intelligence officers, who will join General Patrick Sasa Nzita in the United States.

Their mission extends over 10 days between New York and Washington, with the sole purpose of discussing the security aspect of the anticipated agreement.

One delegation member told Radio France Internationale that his country seeks to draft an agreement linking economic cooperation with defense coordination.

The new doctrine is based on the principle of “mutual security”: if the United States’ access to critical minerals ensures its industrial and military security, Kinshasa wants this to be paired with security guarantees that enhance its defensive capabilities.

The Democratic Republic of Congo hopes that U.S. support will include areas of organization, equipment, and modernization of the defense system, without implying the replacement of the Congolese army with foreign forces.

However, these ambitions are still in the idea exchange phase, awaiting clarification of the final agreement’s features.