U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti in Washington to discuss deepening U.S. investment in Liberia’s rapidly expanding critical minerals sector, the U.S. State Department confirmed. The talks focused on unlocking opportunities for American companies in the extraction and processing of key minerals vital to global clean-energy supply chains, Reuters reported.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the discussions centered on “expanding U.S. participation in Liberia’s critical minerals sector with the aim of creating jobs and economic growth in both the United States and Liberia.” The engagement comes amid a broader U.S. push to diversify mineral sourcing away from dominant suppliers such as China and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Liberia, which holds significant reserves of lithium, cobalt, and manganese, has positioned itself as an emerging player in the global energy transition. Energy Capital Power noted that the country’s government is working to attract strategic investors by strengthening mining laws, improving infrastructure, and ensuring transparent regulatory oversight.
Analysts say a stronger U.S.–Liberia partnership could provide Washington with a stable, long-term supplier of critical raw materials while boosting Liberia’s fiscal revenues and industrial development. However, experts also caution that success will depend on transparent governance, environmental safeguards, and fair local content participation.
