In its hunt for critical minerals, the US is misconstruing what is and is not America’s

There’s a growing interest in mining the ocean seabed for minerals essential to technology. But whose minerals are they? A Law of the Sea scholar explains.

By: Coalter G Lathrop, Duke University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 13, 2026

Words: 1,352

Last Updated: 4 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Coalter G Lathrop, Duke University

Americans have a reputation for being bad at world geography, and the current U.S. administration is no exception, particularly when it comes to correctly identifying what is – and is not – part of the United States of America.

President Donald Trump’s April 2025 executive order “unleashing America’s offshore critical minerals” provides an example. It purports to “unleash” seabed minerals both within and far outside U.S. jurisdiction.

The …

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