"US and Saudi Arabia Collaborate to Secure African Metals, Reveals Wall Street Journal"

The United States and Saudi Arabia are reportedly in talks to secure metals in African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Namibia, in order to support their respective energy transitions. A state-backed Saudi venture is expected to purchase stakes in mining assets worth $15 billion, allowing U.S. companies to have rights to buy some of the production. This move comes as the U.S. seeks to catch up with China in the race for cobalt, lithium, and other metals used in electric car batteries, laptops, and smartphones. The White House is also seeking financial backing from other sovereign-wealth funds in the region, but talks with Saudi Arabia have progressed the furthest.