The Trump administration has written an executive order to allow the storage of metals found in the Pacific Ocean seabed. This initiative seeks to counteract China’s influence on the supply chains of critical minerals, since it controls 70% of the global market.
These metals are They find in the polymetallic nodules of the seabed, which contains minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and rare land traces. The US government has considered that deep water mining will guarantee a national source of these materials, so it seeks to accelerate mining requests under national legislation. Within that idea, it would include the creation of a strategic reserve of minerals to self -abuse.
Before these perspectives, China has already raised its voice to the possibility of this plan being carried out, accusing Trump and his clique of violating international law and to ignore the principle that the resources of the seabed in non -national areas must be shared.
On the other hand, the European Commission expressed today its deep regret for the decision of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to boost the exploitation of the ocean fund to extract critical minerals Because he violates international legislation and threatens the environment, sustainability, cooperation and international relations.
China is unhappy with Trump
China criticized the recent decision of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to boost deep water mining, considering that the measure Vulnera international law and threatens the principle of shared use of marine bed resources.
Guo Jiakun Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a press conference that the international zone of the oceanic fund and its resources “are common heritage of humanity”, And he recalled that their exploration and development “must be carried out within the framework of the International Authority of Marine Funds”, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNClos).
In this sense, Guo warned that “no country must avoid the international authority of marine funds or international law to unilaterally authorize the exploration and development of resources in the international area of the seabed,” something that, he said, “He undermines the common interests of the international community”.
Trump He signed an executive order on Thursday to facilitate mining in deep waterwith the aim of reducing the dependency of the USA of foreign suppliers of critical minerals, a sector in which China has a dominant weight.
The Chinese spokesman also referred to the Part of the order that affects the so -called “extended continental platform” beyond the 200 nautical miles, which USA claims as its own.
According to Guo, “the US authorization to exploit mineral resources in its alleged extended continental platform violates international law and harms the general interests of the international community.” The Large -scale underwater mining has been subject to growing international debate due to the possible environmental impact on fragile marine ecosystems.
The European commission is not satisfied either
«The European Commission Deeply laments President Donald Trump’s decision to sign an executive order to accelerate the authorization of the exploitation of minerals in deep waters«A spokesman for the community executive told Efe.
Trump He ordered last Thursday to streamline the exploration and processing of permits for deep water mining with the objective that the US leads this new industry where they could Obtain key critical minerals for technological development, a sector on which China currently has an almost total domain.
That decision of Trump «The current negotiations on exploitation regulations within the International Authority of Marine Funds, the International Autonomous Organization established in VIRUDA of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the 1982 and the 1994 Agreement regarding the application of part XI of said Convention«The commission added.
The European Commission stressed that the aforementioned Convention «establishes the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out“And” it offers a carefully balanced and equitable package of rights and obligations of states in different maritime areas. “
«It also reflects a balance that allows us to reconcile the individual interests of the states with the protection of the common interests of the international community and humanity as a whole“, Added the community executive, which described that convention as” the constitution of the oceans and one of the strongest and visionary instruments ever adopted. “
“It is essential to remember that its provisions reflect customary international law and, therefore, are binding for all states, have ratified the convention or not,” he added. The regulations, he said, «It contributes to sustainable development, as well as peace, security, cooperation and friendly relationships between all nations«. Large -scale mining in deep water is new in the world and has not managed to advance, especially because of the environmental concerns of possible irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems. EFE/ECOTICIAS.com