FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. President Boakai Holds Bilateral Meeting with President Trump; Mineral Sector Investment Tops Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. President Boakai Holds Bilateral Meeting with President Trump; Mineral Sector Investment Tops Agenda

July 9, 2025

Washington, D.C., USA – On the margins of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., held a high-level bilateral meeting today with President Donald J. Trump.

The meeting, held closed-door at the White House, focused on strengthening economic ties between the two countries, with particular emphasis on unlocking investment opportunities in Liberia’s mineral sector.

During the structured engagement, President Boakai highlighted Liberia’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the United States through a new economic diplomacy framework that prioritizes trade, investment, and private sector-driven development.

“Liberia is open for business,” President Boakai stated. “We are committed to creating an enabling environment for American investors—especially in the mineral, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. Our natural resource endowment, especially in critical minerals, presents a major opportunity for U.S. investment that is both profitable and transformative.” He added.

President Boakai invited the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to partner with Liberia in conducting a nationwide mapping of its critical minerals, with a view to identifying strategic investment opportunities in rare earth elements, lithium, gold, and iron ore. He emphasized the importance of U.S. technical expertise in helping Liberia unlock the full potential of its mineral wealth in a way that is sustainable, transparent, and beneficial to local communities.

President Trump welcomed the renewed momentum in U.S.-Liberia relations and praised President Boakai’s leadership in prioritizing economic reforms and rooting out corruption. He expressed strong support for expanded U.S. commercial engagement in Liberia and acknowledged the country’s strategic role in promoting regional stability and economic resilience in West Africa.

The leaders also discussed the importance of job creation, particularly for youth, as a critical tool in safeguarding regional security and preventing extremism. President Boakai emphasized that the development of Liberia’s mineral sector could serve as a cornerstone for job creation, infrastructure development, and national revenue generation.

The meeting concluded with President Trump congratulating President Boakai on the election to the UN Security Council Non Permanent seat while President Boakai congratulated President Trump on the 249th Independence of the United States and a joint commitment to strengthen bilateral ties through enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, security, and private sector development.

Both leaders instructed their respective teams to accelerate follow-up actions and explore immediate avenues for technical collaboration and investment facilitation.