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The U.S. has partnered with the Cook Islands, a self-governing country in the South Pacific, to develop its seabed mineral resources and bolster America’s critical mineral stockpile.
**Why It Matters**
The Cook Islands’ seabed is exceptionally rich in minerals crucial for modern technology and energy transitions. This partnership combines the island nation’s mineral potential with American expertise in oceanic research and technology, potentially creating a lucrative arrangement that could position the Cook Islands as a key player in the deep-sea mining economy. For the U.S., it offers a foothold in the Pacific’s critical mineral supply chain.
**What to Know**
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The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands and atolls between New Zealand and Hawaii, governed by New Zealand but with significant autonomy. The two nations have initiated discussions on exploring and responsibly developing the Cook Island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), an area extending 200 nautical miles from its shores.
According to the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, this EEZ contains an estimated 12 billion wet tonnes of polymetallic nodules, rich in minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, niobium, zirconium, and rare earth elements. These minerals are among the 50 considered “critical” by the U.S. government due to their essential role in modern technologies.
The Cook Islands has long sought to capitalize on its mineral potential. Prime Minister Mark Brown told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that initial research is underway to determine environmental impacts of exploration, but potential revenues from deep sea mining could bolster the nation’s financial resilience against climate change threats.
**Environmental Considerations**
While the partnership advances U.S. minerals objectives and counters China’s influence over seabed resources, it raises concerns about environmental stewardship and sustainability. Environmental activists advocate pausing exploitation until more is understood about marine life impacts. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has developed robust regulatory mechanisms under a seabed management authority.
**Next Steps**
Tuesday’s announcement outlined future collaboration in conducting necessary research to inform seabed exploration, but no specific timeline for when exploration will commence was provided.
*Sources:*
– [U.S. Department of State](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/08/joint-statement-on-u-s-cook-islands-cooperation-on-seabed-mineral-resources)
– [Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority](https://www.sbma.gov.ck/faqs)
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