Chasing Cobalt: The New US-Tonga Seabed Pact

The US and Tonga have agreed to collaborate on marine scientific research to support responsible seabed mineral exploration in the Pacific

17 Mar 2026

The United States and Tonga have formalized a partnership to collaborate on marine scientific research. This move signals Washington’s deepening engagement with Pacific Island nations amid a global race for subsea resources. The agreement, announced by the State Department in late February 2026, establishes a framework for the responsible exploration of seabed minerals. During a high-level diplomatic visit to Nuku’alofa, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with King Tupou VI and Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua to solidify the arrangement.

The partnership arrives as the demand for polymetallic nodules reaches a critical juncture. These potato-sized rocks are rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Such minerals are essential components for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage, and advanced defense systems. Tonga holds significant stewardship rights within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, which is a vast abyssal plain in the Pacific that contains some of the world’s largest known deposits of these metals.

This agreement follows a similar deal struck between the United States and the Cook Islands earlier this month. The move reflects a broader strategy to secure supply chains. Analysts noted that the effort is intended to provide a counterweight to China, which currently holds more exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority than any other nation. By fostering these bilateral ties, Washington is positioning itself as a primary scientific and economic partner for nations that control access to the seafloor.

Still, the prospect of commercial mining remains a subject of intense international debate. Both governments emphasized that any future extraction must be guided by rigorous environmental standards and respect for Tonga’s cultural heritage and fishing industry. Critics and environmental advocates have long cautioned that deep-sea mining could cause irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems. This concern has slowed the drafting of international regulations for years.

The timing of the pact is significant because the International Seabed Authority, led by Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho, faces pressure to finalize exploitation rules by the end of the year. While the multilateral process continues in Kingston, Jamaica, the proliferation of bilateral agreements suggests that the deep ocean has become the latest frontier in geopolitical competition. The outcome of these research initiatives will likely determine the technical and environmental benchmarks for the industry in the decade ahead.