Key mineral supply protection big move! It is rumored that the Trump administration plans to collaborate with the private equity giant Orion to create a $5 billion mining investment fund.

According to media reports quoting informed sources, the US government is discussing the establishment of a mining investment fund with a scale of up to $5 billion, which would be the potential largest move by the US to ensure critical mineral supply. The report stated that the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is in negotiations with the New York-based private equity giant Orion Resource Partners to establish a joint venture. The discussions are still ongoing and a final agreement has not yet been reached. This plan reflects efforts by the US to reduce dependence on China for critical mineral supply. Both the Trump administration and Orion have emphasized the need for Western governments to play a more active role in the mineral market. Orion, managing around $8 billion in assets, has previously worked with sovereign wealth funds and is currently focusing on deals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's largest cobalt supplier. The proposed US partnership model will be similar to previous ones, with each side contributing half of the total $5 billion. Established during Trump's first term, the DFC has supported multiple mining projects, including loans for graphite production in Mozambique and railway upgrades in the African Copperbelt region. If the joint venture plan is approved, it will be the largest commitment in the institution's history. It is reported that the DFC is expected to expand its functions in Trump's second term, potentially doubling its investment capacity and taking on higher-risk projects to attract private capital.