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The Trump administration is linking a proposed $1.5 billion HIV/AIDS aid package for Zambia to negotiations over access to the country's mining resources, amidst strategic competition with China for critical minerals. U.S. officials have postponed finalizing the aid while discussing broader economic partnerships.

Critics warn that conditioning humanitarian assistance on resource agreements undermines global health diplomacy. Zambia, which relies heavily on U.S. health funding, faces pressure to agree to U.S. demands for increased access to its mineral wealth, raising concerns about the implications for public health.