Aiming to unshackle the United States from foreign dependency, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order targeting deep-sea mining operations to blow China’s stranglehold.
The order targets vast underwater resources within American territorial waters and beyond.
It also aims to secure American access to essential minerals needed for everything from electric vehicles to national defense systems, potentially creating 100,000 new jobs and adding $300 billion to the economy.
The executive order directs federal agencies to fast-track permits for deep-sea mining operations targeting polymetallic nodules.
This mineral-rich formation found on the ocean floor contains copper, nickel, and other vital resources.
Such minerals are essential components in electronics, electric vehicles, and defense technologies currently dominated by Chinese suppliers.
Upon signing the order, Trump declared, “The United States has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep-sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources.”
This emphasizes America’s determination to break free from foreign mineral dependence.
The action expedites explicitly mining permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 and establishes a new process for permits along the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The Commerce Secretary has been given just 60 days to streamline exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits.
Furthermore, U.S. waters alone are estimated to contain over 1 billion metric tons of mineral nodules, representing an untapped treasure trove of strategic resources.
While environmentalists predictably oppose the initiative, the administration is moving forward with America’s interests as the priority.
The timing could not be more critical. China has been systematically limiting exports of rare earth minerals and other vital resources, creating artificial shortages that threaten American manufacturing and national security.
Unlike the past administration’s approach of begging foreign nations for resources, Trump’s strategy prioritizes America’s needs by developing our abundant resources.
The initiative also includes coordination with the Secretaries of Energy and Defense to identify minerals critical for defense, infrastructure, and energy independence.
It calls for feasibility studies on stockpiling these resources for national defense and revamping domestic processing capabilities that have been allowed to wither under previous administrations.
Likewise, the market has already responded positively to Trump’s decisive action.
Shares of The Metals Company, a leader in deep-sea mining technologies, surged following the announcement.
American companies like Impossible Metals are already showing interest in mineral deposits near American Samoa, a U.S. territory rich in these resources.
While the usual environmental activists condemn the order, they offer no viable alternative to address America’s growing mineral shortage.
The administration points out that deep-sea mining could actually reduce destructive land-based mining operations while providing essential materials for the technologies that will power America’s future.
With countries like Norway, China, India, and Poland aligning against America’s approach, Trump’s America-first policy ensures Americans will not be left behind in the race for these vital resources.
Unlike previous administrations, which surrendered American interests to global bureaucracies, Trump is ensuring that America maintains its sovereignty and access to strategic minerals essential for our economic and national security.
