Trump makes HIV aid threat as he demands critical mineral rights for US | US | News
Donald Trump has declared that Zambia must grant concessional mineral supply rights to the United States – or face a devastating reduction in health funding that could affect millions of lives.
The Southern African country has until Thursday, April 30, to decide whether to offer U.S. companies privileged access to its mineral wealth. If he refuses, the consequences could be disastrous; 1.3 million people who depend on US funding for HIV treatment could potentially lose vital support.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and severely inhibits its ability to fight infections. US aid currently funds antiretroviral therapy, which prevents the virus from replicating and allows the immune system to recover.
Zambia’s natural resources include copper, cobalt and lithium.
African countries have long relied on U.S. funding to cover health care costs. Al Jazeera reported that African countries received $5.4 billion in aid from the United States in 2024, with the majority of this going towards humanitarian aid, health and disaster relief needs.
The Trump administration cut funding and disbanded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in January 2025. A US aid fund tracker found that the impact of these cuts contributed to 518,428 child and 263,915 adult deaths from treatable diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.
Aid cuts are consistent with Trump’s America First agenda, which stipulates that foreign aid should directly serve U.S. national interests; This also reflects the view that aid encourages over-dependence. Other African countries have already experienced the consequences of reducing US aid.
Aid cuts are consistent with Trump’s America First agenda, which stipulates that foreign aid should directly serve U.S. national interests; This also reflects the view that aid encourages over-dependence. Other African countries have already experienced the consequences of reducing US aid.
South Africa was excluded from health aid by the Trump administration, primarily because of genocide charges filed against America’s ally Israel at the International Criminal Court.
The withdrawal of US funding has impacted healthcare, eliminated HIV prevention programs, and disrupted South Africa-US research collaboration.
