The U.S.–DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement (signed Dec. 4, 2025) is a broad, government‑to‑government framework to deepen U.S.–DRC ties across security, economic, and governance areas. Key commitments in the Agreement include: designation of the DRC as a U.S. “strategic partner”; cooperation on security and defense and protection of critical infrastructure; mechanisms to expand U.S. private‑sector investment—especially in critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, and beneficiation; creation of a Strategic Asset Reserve and a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) to oversee project selection and offtake guidelines; preferential processes and incentives (e.g., right‑of‑first‑offer, fiscal incentives, a centralized “guichet unique”) to promote U.S. participation in SAR/QSP projects; support for Grand Inga and the Sakania–Lobito corridor; technical assistance, governance and ASM (artisanal mining) reforms; and provisions on transparency, fiscal/regulatory reforms, and periodic review. (The full text with detailed articles and annexes is published by the U.S. State Department.)
The “Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity” (signed Dec. 4, 2025) are the set of bilateral instruments—principally the June 27, 2025 Peace Agreement, the Declaration of Principles, and the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF)—that formalize DRC–Rwanda commitments to end decades of conflict, pursue security steps (e.g., ceasefires, withdrawals, disarmament), and advance economic integration for the Great Lakes region. The U.S. hosted and witnessed the signing of the Accords.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) "Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Concerning an Expanded Security Partnership" was one of the instruments signed or announced on Dec. 4, 2025 to deepen U.S.–DRC security cooperation. The State Department listed the MOU alongside the Washington Accords and the Strategic Partnership Agreement, but the full text of that Dec. 4 security MOU has not been published by the U.S. government as of available public records; therefore detailed provisions cannot be quoted from a public source.
An “expanded security partnership” in diplomatic/military practice typically includes: capacity‑building and training for host‑nation forces; intelligence‑sharing and joint planning; logistical, advisory, and equipment support; cooperation on counter‑terrorism, border security, and stabilization operations; protection of critical infrastructure and supply chains; establishment of coordination mechanisms (e.g., joint committees, MOUs); and possibly limited deployments of advisors or security assistance—subject to legal and political constraints and the MOU’s terms.
Eastern DRC remains highly unstable: long‑running violence involves Congolese forces, the M23 rebel group (and other armed groups), and cross‑border tensions with Rwanda; civilians face displacement, human rights abuses, and insecurity that undermine state authority and humanitarian access. The Washington Accords and follow‑on security arrangements aim to address rebel activity, troop withdrawals, disarmament, and stabilization—but fighting and ceasefire violations continued around the Dec. 2025 signing, so the situation remains fragile on the ground.
U.S. investment opportunities described in the Strategic Partnership focus on the DRC’s mining and related sectors and include: exploration, greenfield and brownfield mining projects (critical minerals, copper, cobalt, zinc, gold); downstream processing, beneficiation, smelting and refining; large energy projects (e.g., Grand Inga hydropower); transport and logistics infrastructure (notably the Sakania–Lobito Corridor rail link); industrial projects tied to local value‑addition; and related services (construction, durable goods, geological data, and project finance). The Agreement also foresees fiscal incentives, a right‑of‑first‑offer for SAR projects to U.S. persons, and mechanisms to mobilize U.S. development finance.
Tommy Pigott is the State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson; a readout attributable to him is an official short summary released by the Spokesperson’s office that describes senior‑level meetings or events, and signals the Department’s public account of what was discussed and agreed (but is not itself a treaty or full transcript).