Trump administration officials say they’re in talks with the Cook Islands government to develop minerals in the South Pacific Ocean mere months after the island nation signed a similar agreement with China.
The State Department on Monday said the two countries are discussing how to advance exploration and production of minerals within the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone. The agency also highlighted that American companies are already operating there.
The Cook Islands are a chain of 15 islands scattered between Hawaii and New Zealand.
“The United States of America and the Cook Islands are proud U.S.-linked firms sit at the forefront of deep seabed mineral research and exploration in the Cook Islands, which reflects strong and shared U.S.-Cook Islands seabed minerals interests,” the two countries said in a joint statement.
