Trump’s Mineral Strategy: Why Cameroon is a Key Target

Since his first term, Donald Trump has systematically reshaped U.S. foreign policy to counter China, which he views as America’s top strategic rival. At the heart of this strategy lies a critical resource: rare earth minerals.

GreenMet: The American Company Driving Trump’s Africa Policy

Central to this initiative is GreenMet, a company founded by Drew Horn, a former senior national security advisor to Trump. Horn, who served as principal advisor to the Director of National Intelligence, recently visited Yaoundé to advance a quiet but strategic agenda. His team includes former Trump associates like George Sorial (former White House counsel) and Keith Schiller (former head of security at the Trump Organization).

GreenMet’s mission aligns with Trump’s push to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies. The company has quietly secured a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cameroonian authorities, though its details remain undisclosed. What is clear, however, is that American Renaissance Minerals (ARM)—a GreenMet affiliate—now leads the nickel and cobalt project at Nkamouna. Rare earth minerals are also in Washington’s crosshairs.

Bypassing Congress: Trump’s Direct Approach to Cameroon

Trump has circumvented congressional restrictions that previously excluded Cameroon from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Instead, the U.S. is leveraging the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon (AmCham) to broker trade agreements. This shift reflects a broader strategy: fostering partnerships that prioritize transparency in extractive industries and legal frameworks—unlike China’s approach in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The U.S. is also cracking down on illicit gold trafficking, working with Cameroonian authorities to dismantle networks exposed by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ITIE). This cooperation underscores Washington’s dual focus: security and economic leverage.

In just eight months, Cameroonian President Paul Biya has hosted two high-profile U.S. military officials: General Dagvin Anderson, then AFRICOM commander, in September 2025, and Lieutenant General John William Brennan Jr., AFRICOM deputy commander, in May 2026. These meetings signal a deeper security alignment.

Economic Ties: A Win-Win for Both Nations

U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized the potential of Cameroonian-American partnerships. “I sincerely hope to see more American businesses investing in Cameroon, fostering trade, and creating joint ventures. This benefits both countries: it creates jobs in the U.S., supports American industries—a priority for President Trump—and boosts Cameroon’s economy,” stated Christopher Lamora after meeting with President Biya earlier this year.

Washington’s strategy mirrors its Cold War-era approach to Asian economies, aiming to transform Cameroon, Nigeria, and Kenya into African “tiger economies”—high-growth hubs that drive regional stability and prosperity.

With China having invested over $700 billion across 49 African nations, Trump’s Africa policy is a calculated response: securing critical minerals, tightening security ties, and fostering economic alliances that align with U.S. strategic interests.