The European Union (EU) has strongly criticized the United States for promoting deep-sea mining in international waters without a global agreement. The move, championed by President Trump, bypasses ongoing international negotiations and raises significant concerns about its legality and environmental risks. The action has sparked fears of an uncontrolled “oceanic gold rush,” which could lead to irreversible damage to ocean ecosystems.

Unilateral Action and Global Repercussions

On Monday, the European Commission expressed “deep regret” over President Trump’s decision to push for deep-sea mining operations in international waters. The US President’s executive order, which seeks to fast-track mining projects, came shortly after the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA) failed to finalize comprehensive regulations for seabed mining. The ISA, established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is the global body responsible for overseeing the exploitation of seabed resources.

The European Commission has emphasized that UNCLOS is the legal framework governing all maritime activities, including seabed mining. The 1982 treaty, which balances the interests of individual nations with the global community, aims to ensure the sustainable development of oceanic resources. An EU spokesperson underlined that even though the US has never ratified UNCLOS, its principles have become widely accepted as binding customary international law. This, the Commission argues, obligates all nations—regardless of their treaty status—to follow these international maritime laws.

Legal Concerns Over US Actions

Experts have raised alarm about the legality of Washington’s decision to pursue deep-sea mining outside the established global framework. Dr. Douglas McCauley, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, condemned the US’s move as illegal and warned that it would ultimately fail. McCauley referred to the US as the “world’s first pirate mining operation” for its disregard of international regulations that were designed to protect the oceans.

“The US is positioning itself outside international norms, undermining decades of legal agreements that have governed our oceans,” McCauley stated. “Had the US abided by international rules, it could have played a role in the sustainable extraction of seabed minerals in a controlled and legally compliant manner.”

Duncan Currie, an advisor to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, echoed McCauley’s concerns. Currie pointed out that Trump’s decision directly violates 40 years of international legal precedents. He warned that such unilateral actions not only jeopardize ocean governance but also threaten the Pacific nations most vulnerable to the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining.

Growing Global Opposition

The international response to the US’s deep-sea mining push has been swift and united. China, along with several other global powers, has expressed its opposition to Washington’s unilateral approach. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China, reaffirmed the importance of the ISA and the UNCLOS framework for regulating seabed mineral exploitation. Guo emphasized that seabed resources belong to all of humanity and should only be mined under the oversight of the international community, not through unilateral actions by individual nations.

“Seabed mining must be carried out under the United Nations framework, with strict regulations and transparency,” Guo stated. “The pursuit of resources in international waters should never come at the expense of environmental protection or the sovereignty of coastal nations.”

The US’s move comes at a time of escalating tensions over the control of the world’s last unexploited resources. While President Trump’s order has heightened these tensions, it is not the first attempt by the US to expand its mineral claims in international waters. The Biden administration had already undertaken an ambitious two-decade project to map an extended US continental shelf. This mapping project, based on UNCLOS criteria, seeks to bolster US claims over the mineral resources beneath the ocean floor, even though the US has yet to ratify the treaty.

However, this push has faced significant opposition, with both China and Russia rejecting Washington’s claims due to its non-signatory status under UNCLOS. The exclusion of the US from critical ISA discussions complicates its efforts to assert control over seabed resources. A series of failed bipartisan attempts to ratify UNCLOS further underscores America’s diminishing influence in global ocean governance.

The Path Forward for Global Ocean Governance

As the US moves forward with its deep-sea mining agenda, it risks further isolating itself from global efforts to establish a fair and sustainable framework for the exploitation of oceanic resources. Experts warn that the US’s unilateral actions could lead to legal chaos, with other nations potentially following suit and undermining decades of international cooperation.

For the EU, maintaining the integrity of UNCLOS and ensuring that the global community works together to protect ocean ecosystems is of utmost importance. The European Commission has called for a unified, international approach to seabed mining, one that prioritizes environmental sustainability and respects the rights of coastal and island nations most affected by mining activities.

As the international community watches closely, the future of deep-sea mining remains uncertain. The EU continues to advocate for a global consensus on how to manage the world’s seabed resources, with an emphasis on environmental protection and equitable distribution. If Washington’s push for unilateral action succeeds, it could set a dangerous precedent for how the world manages its oceans, with far-reaching consequences for future generations.