DR Congo.

The DRC's foreign policy is dominated by the eastern Congo crisis and the contentious relationship with Rwanda. Kinshasa has mobilized regional and international support against what it frames as Rwandan aggression through M23, winning backing from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) military mission, Angola-led mediation efforts, and growing Western criticism of Kigali. The DRC has also engaged the East African Community (which it joined in 2022) and the AU in peace processes, though with mixed results.

Beyond the security dimension, the DRC leverages its critical mineral wealth as diplomatic currency, engaging with the US, EU, and China on supply chain governance. Tshisekedi has pushed for greater domestic value addition in mining and renegotiated the controversial 2008 Sicomines deal with China. The country maintains close ties with France, Belgium (the former colonial power), Angola, and South Africa.