In a bold and controversial move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order to fast-track deep-sea mining operations, aiming to wrest control of critical minerals from China’s iron grip. With the world’s demand for cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth metals skyrocketing-key ingredients for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and high-tech gadgets – this underwater gold rush is set to reshape global supply chains and geopolitical power plays.
Trump’s order directs the U.S. government to accelerate permits for mining polymetallic nodules-potato-sized mineral-rich rocks scattered across the ocean floor, particularly in U.S. waters and international zones like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Mexico and Hawaii. The administration claims this could add a staggering $300 billion to America’s GDP over the next decade and create 100,000 jobs, asserting that “the United States has a core national security and economic interest” in dominating seabed resources. But this aggressive push has sparked fierce backlash. Environmentalists warn of irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems, calling the move “an environmental disaster in the making.” Meanwhile, China condemns the order as a violation of international law, accusing the U.S. of undermining global cooperation on seabed mining regulations. Beijing, which currently dominates rare earth and critical mineral production, views this as a direct challenge in the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry.
Amid this high-stakes contest, India finds itself at a crossroads. The country has already staked claims to cobalt-rich underwater mountains in the Indian Ocean, signaling ambitions to join the deep-sea mining race. With its rapidly growing electric vehicle market and strategic need to secure mineral independence, India cannot afford to lag behind. But balancing economic opportunity with environmental responsibility remains a daunting challenge.
Trump’s executive order is more than just a policy shift – it’s a declaration that the 21st-century resource wars will be fought not just on land, but beneath the waves. For India, the message is clear: to safeguard its future, it must accelerate its own deep-sea mining initiatives while demanding sustainable practices. The ocean floor may hold the keys to technological supremacy and economic power, and India must dive in before it’s left stranded on the shore.