Geopolitics of Deep Sea Mining | Part 1

Treasure, tension, and territory beneath the waves

May 06, 2025

∙ Paid

“At the core of deep sea mining is that global powers will be indirectly expanding their control over foreign geographies.”

As the world grapples with wave after wave of US President Trump’s policies and proposals, including the recent 100% tariff on movies produced abroad, an executive order was signed last month that threatens to unleash major geopolitical change.

On April 24, Trump signed a new measure to expand and boost US deep-sea mining across the world, giving America new access to critical metals like copper and nickel. According to a Trump official, deep-sea mining could grow the US economy by $300 billion over the next decade while also generating 100,000 jobs.

Over the past few years, deep-sea mining, which focuses on mining critical metals, like rare earths, from ocean floors, usually below 200 meters, has exploded onto the world stage as the appetite of nations grows for high-tech goods and sovereign supply chains.

Now, with Trump’s order, a new fight is beginning, one that will be out of the eye of most, deep beneath the ocean waves.