US and South African officials and mining executives have held two meetings to explore joint development of critical minerals projects. The talks aim to strengthen economic ties and ease diplomatic strains between the two countries.
Senior officials, business leaders and union representatives from both nations met in Johannesburg on 6 May. The session was hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and followed an earlier gathering in Washington during March.
Participants focused on concrete projects such as the Phalaborwa rare earths initiative, which already receives support from the US-backed investor TechMet. A mining executive present said the goal was practical collaboration rather than formal government agreements.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa endorsed the effort in an April address to the American Chamber of Commerce. US Ambassador Brent Bozell and officials from the Export-Import Bank also attended the Johannesburg discussions.
