Tshisekedi Meets Rubio to Deepen U.S.–DRC Partnership

Washington, D.C. | February 4, 2026 — President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo held high-level talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, marking a decisive step in deepening the U.S.–DRC Strategic Partnership — with a strong focus on investment, critical minerals, and security cooperation.

The meeting capped a full day of intensive diplomatic engagements by the Congolese Head of State with senior U.S. institutions, underscoring Kinshasa’s growing centrality in Washington’s Africa and global supply-chain strategy.

From peace to partnership: what Tshisekedi and Rubio discussed

According to the U.S. State Department, President Tshisekedi and Secretary Rubio reviewed progress on implementing the U.S.–DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement signed on December 4, 2025. Discussions focused on:

• expanding U.S. private-sector investment across the DRC,

• advancing cooperation on critical minerals, particularly copper and cobalt,

• and reinforcing a broader security partnership, including compliance with the Washington Peace Accords and the December 4 Memorandum of Understanding.

Washington reaffirmed its commitment to Congo’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability, particularly in the eastern provinces.

A full day of high-level U.S. engagement

The Rubio meeting came after a series of strategic encounters that illustrate the breadth of the U.S.–Congo reset.