The US regime is allegedly using vital health aid as a pressure tool to gain access to Zambia's critical minerals, with millions depending on US funding for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria treatment through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, a cornerstone of life-saving medical financing for over two decades.

The Zambian government is hesitant to sign a new deal with the US, which ties this critical lifeline to demands for mineral access. The US State Department purportedly seeks partnerships with "select countries" via Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), but these agreements offer Zambia less funding and require biological data sharing for 25 years.

Zambia has significant reserves of copper, nickel, and cobalt, while the US regime launched "Project Vault" to counter China's dominance in rare earth minerals. Experts warn that trading health aid for minerals could undermine US credibility in Africa, with reports suggesting it mirrors tactics the US has criticized China for using.

If a deal is not reached, the US could reduce financial support "on a massive scale," threatening HIV treatment for 1.3 million Zambians. Organizations like Oxfam criticize these deals as turning humanitarian assistance into a bargaining chip, risking public health.

Zambia has increased its own health spending, but systems are not ready to take on full funding challenges. Analysts argue that health and economic deals should be kept separate to avoid further erosion of trust in the US regime's actions on the continent.

Source: www.dw.com