Thousands of people were working on the informal mining site in eastern Congo, in an area controlled by an armed militia.

© Reuters

After Trump pledged to open international waters to mining, The Metals Company sought U.S. permits. But other countries are raising legal concerns.

© Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times

Beijing is betting that economic pressure and diplomatic defiance will force concessions, but its stance could put more strain on its ties with Europe at a crucial time.

© Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times

In the chaos of war, there’s nothing to stop Chinese firms from ravaging the landscape and extracting the minerals, which end up in China.

© Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times