Wyatt Greco
An August 2025 joint statement between the United States and the Cook Islands announced cooperation on seabed mineral research, advancing the Trump administration’s intention to establish America as an international leader on deep-sea mining. This new collaboration counterattacks an expansive set of agreements between the Cook Islands and China revealed earlier in the year, which laid a foundation for Chinese involvement with lucrative resource deposits. US negotiations strike at China’s interests in the small country and should motivate American policymakers to continue the offensive to secure the West’s sphere of influence in the Pacific Islands.
China’s cooperation with the Cook Islands on seabed mining remains limited to exploration, but it builds Beijing’s reputation as an industry leader. In February, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries committed to the formation of a “Joint Committee of Marine Cooperation in Seabed Minerals Affairs” to manage the promised collaboration on research and technology sharing. The MOU was signed in conjunction with a larger comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) with Beijing, which covered topics ranging from infrastructure to the environment to educational scholarships.
America’s more recent joint statement confirmed a shared interest in partnering on seabed study. According to the press release, the United States and Cook Islands governments “are uniquely positioned to work together to ensure that the exploration and development of seabed mineral resources are guided by rigorous gold standard science and best practices.” While discussions on the specifics of the partnership are ongoing, the document implies a US willingness to devote “expertise in oceanic research and technology” to the “vast maritime natural resources” of the Cook Islands.
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