Before the United Nations Security Council, Congolese foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized that it’s not about creating new international obligations but rather better articulating existing mechanisms for resource tracking, sanctions, or governance.
She also highlighted that this discussion wasn’t aimed at establishing a global mining code or undermining state sovereignty over natural resources.
Deepening Divisions
The United States focused on securing supply chains for critical minerals and investing in the sector.
China advocated for respecting state sovereignty and rejecting any politicization of the debate.
Russia went further, rejecting the idea of a regulatory gap and arguing that conflicts stem from political instability and external interference rather than the absence of international rules.
These exchanges highlighted deepening divisions among major powers on global governance of natural resources.
