US says it has started seabed mineral talks with Cook Islands
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Nodules encrusted with coveted metals like cobalt and nickel on board a research vessel in the Cook Islands. US-linked firms “sit at the forefront” of seabed mineral research and exploration in the area, the Statement Department said.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – The US has begun talks with the Cook Islands for research on seabed minerals exploration and development, the State Department said on Aug 5.
The Cook Islands, which had a population of 15,040 in 2021, lies halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and is made up of 15 islands and atolls.
Western nations that traditionally held sway in the region have become increasingly concerned about China’s plans to increase influence after Beijing signed defence, trade and financial deals with Pacific countries in recent years.
Earlier in 2025, China and the Cook Islands signed a strategic partnership deal, which spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excluded security ties.
The US has begun discussions with the Cook Islands “to support the research necessary to inform seabed exploration and responsible development within the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone”, the US Statement Department said in a statement.
US-linked firms “sit at the forefront” of deep seabed mineral research and exploration in the Cook Islands, it said.
The Cook Islands was within New Zealand borders from 1901. In 1965, it became self-governing but in free association with New Zealand.
It has its own government, and King Charles III is its head of state. Cook Islanders have New Zealand citizenship and passports. They have the same rights as a New Zealander, such as the ability to work, go to school and use the medical system.
In June, New Zealand suspended millions of dollars in budget funding to the Cook Islands as their relationship continued to deteriorate amid the island group’s deepening ties with China. REUTERS
