US seeks to expand seabed 'diplomacy' in the Pacific, eyes deal with Nauru

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Washington has begun engaging with Nauru to explore a partnership on seabed mineral extraction, in a bid to expand its deep-sea mining diplomacy in the Pacific and tap into China’s network.

Nauru, with an area of 8.2 square miles and a population of 10,000, is on the front lines of a drive to jump-start seabed mining in international waters governed by the International Seabed Authority.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau this week spoke with Nauruan President David Adeang "about advancing shared interests in the Pacific,"

said Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department.

Besides deep seabed mining, Landau and Adeang also tackled the potential to work together to curb illegal activities in the region, increase investment opportunities, enhance air travel and cooperate on migration, Pigott said.

"Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral relationship and a peaceful, prosperous Pacific," the spokesperson said.

Pigott said the dialogue was a follow-up to their earlier discussions at the recent Pacific Agenda Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit in Honolulu.

ADVERTISEMENT

Amid the Pacific island leaders’ growing call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in the region, Nauru has defended its collaboration with The Metals Company to advance the initiative, which is considered an economic salvation for the tiny island.

“The greatest risk we face is not the potential environmental impacts of mineral recovery but the risk of inaction. There is a risk of failing to seize the opportunity to transform to renewable energy and decarbonize our planet,” Adeang said during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 24 2024.

While no commercial mining has begun yet, ISA has issued several exploration contracts in the Clarion-Clipperton zone, most of them sponsored by Nauru and Tonga. The area is known to host the world’s largest polymetallic nodule deposits.

As the U.S. and China race to the ocean floor, island nations are hedging their bets. The Cook Islands and Nauru previously signed separate deals with China.

ADVERTISEMENT

Last month, the U.S. built a partnership with Tonga to advance marine scientific research for “responsible exploration of seabed mineral resources."

Federal officials said Tonga’s longstanding history of ocean stewardship and the United States’ expertise in ocean research and technology “uniquely position” them to collaborate in the industry, which stakeholders project will offer a $20 trillion opportunity.

Before Tonga, Washington signed an agreement with the Cook Islands establishing critical mineral frameworks that would lay the groundwork to collaborate “on pricing challenges, spur development, create fair markets, close gaps in priority supply chains and expand access to financing.”

The Trump administration is seeking to accelerate plans to exploit mineral resources offshore Guam and the Northern Marianas, in line with President Trump's executive orders to "unleash" America’s potential to explore and develop offshore mineral resources amid a growing call for a deep-sea mining moratorium in the region.

The U.S. signed similar agreements with 10 other nations, expanding what it calls "critical mineral diplomacy."

Subscribe to

our digital

monthly issue