French Polynesia Objects to US Seabed Mining Plan

The government of French Polynesia announced its intention to challenge a seabed mining exploration proposal submitted by an American startup. This proposal targets international waters situated entirely within French Polynesia's maritime borders. President Moetai Brotherson stated that while French Polynesia was approached, it was not consulted on the industrial activities planned near protected ecosystems. The company, American Deep Sea Minerals, has an application pending with U.S. regulators to explore for minerals crucial for battery and military technology production.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to position the United States as a leader in critical mineral mining, with at least a dozen similar applications under review. The move has drawn international criticism, particularly as negotiators from numerous countries convene in Jamaica at the International Seabed Authority to finalize a decade-long regulatory framework for deep-sea mining. The U.S. administration's decision to allow companies to apply for high seas mining permits directly, bypassing the adoption of these international rules, has been described as a flouting of international law.

Letitia Carvalho, the secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority, emphasized that the deep seabed is a common heritage, warning against repeating past injustices and environmental destruction. French Polynesia, as a French territory, does not hold a seat at the authority, a situation complicated by the political status of its Indigenous population. The territory's objection highlights the tension between national resource ambitions and international environmental governance, particularly concerning areas beyond national jurisdiction.