US plans to cooperate with the Cook Islands in developing submarine minerals

According to a report by Mining Weekly, citing Bloomberg, the US government has initiated negotiations with the Cook Islands on the development of seabed mineral resources.

This arrangement was disclosed during the Cook Islands' 60th anniversary of self-governance, and the agreement includes jointly mapping the exclusive economic zone of this island nation.

The US State Department stated in an announcement on the 5th that the Cook Islands is "one of the most mineral-rich areas for deep-sea deposits."

In April, President Trump signed an executive order calling for expedited approval of seabed mining rights.

Within days of Trump's signing of the executive order, The Metals Company, a Canadian enterprise, through its US subsidiary, filed the first application for seabed mining in international waters under a 1980 act. This unilateral move, which disregarded international law, sparked significant controversy.

Seabed mining has long been considered one of the ways to expand the supply of metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese. However, commercial development is still a long way off, with key technologies remaining unproven and facing environmental criticism.

The US State Department stated that the US's "maritime research and technological experience" would contribute to the development of the Cook Islands' "abundant marine natural resources."