Cases / Mining · Cook Islands · 2026
US and Cook Islands deal raises concerns over seabed mining talks
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
A US–Cook Islands seabed minerals agreement raised concern that a superpower could sway a tiny island's seabed mining decisions. The sources reviewed do not describe the environmental effects of the seabed mining under discussion.
What?
A US–Cook Islands seabed minerals deal raised concern about a superpower's influence over the island's seabed mining talks, PINA reported. PINA
Where?
Cook Islands PINA
When?
March 2026 PINA
Who?
Gained
- United States — Seabed minerals deal and critical minerals framework with the Cook Islands PINA
Lost
None on recordHarmed
None on recordWhy?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
A seabed minerals deal and critical minerals framework between the US and the Cook Islands, per PINA. PINA
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
PINA reported concern that a US–Cook Islands seabed minerals deal and critical minerals framework could give a superpower influence over a tiny island's decisions.
According to PINA, the island had also signed a partnership with China in 2025.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources reviewed do not set out the terms of the US–Cook Islands deal.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not describe the terms or scope of the 2025 China partnership.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether any seabed mining has begun.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Press and investigations
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