Joseph Conrad’s depiction of colonial exploitation in Congo echoes in current U.S. negotiations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the DRC is offering minerals in exchange for military assistance amid ongoing security crises and armed conflicts. With a history of Western exploitation and the DRC’s dependency on foreign aid, this deal risks further entrenching a cycle of subservience, where the DRC’s mineral wealth becomes a bargaining chip for military support rather than genuine partnership. The situation underscores a complex, modern form of coercion that reflects past colonial dynamics, albeit without direct military intervention.
