US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific
Leaders in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are opposing a US government proposal to auction deep-sea mining leases near their coasts. The Marine Mineral Administration aims to lease 28 million hectares of seabed, but local officials are demanding rigorous environmental protections and scientific studies before any activity begins.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between US strategic interests in securing critical minerals to compete with China and the environmental and sovereignty concerns of Pacific territories.
Leaders in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam have expressed opposition to US plans to auction deep sea mining leases. Leaders in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam have expressed opposition to US plans to auction deep sea mining leases. Deep-sea mining US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific US agency releases plan to lease millions of hectares of seabed off the coast of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
Prefer the Guardian on Google A US government plan to lease out millions of hectares of seabed near the Mariana Trench for deep sea exploration has drawn opposition from US territories in the Pacific, as the Trump administration remains locked in a race with China for control of critical ocean minerals.
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