UN Ocean Summit Pushes High Seas Treaty as Deep-Sea Mining Debate Intensifies

UN Ocean Summit Pushes High Seas Treaty as Deep-Sea Mining Debate Intensifies
Above: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the opening session of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the Centre des Expositions conference center in Nice, France on June 9, 2025.  Image copyright: Ludovic Marin/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Spin

Climate-concerned narrative

The vast majority of our planet's oceans — nearly half the Earth's surface — remain utterly lawless, a maritime Wild West where ruthless exploitation runs rampant. With biodiversity collapsing and climate catastrophe accelerating, the High Seas Treaty represents humanity's last chance to govern these critical waters before we destroy what sustains all life on Earth.

Pro-Trump narrative

Deep-sea mining is not a reckless gamble — it's a national imperative for the U.S. Beneath our oceans lie critical minerals essential to defense, energy, and economic independence. While adversaries tighten their grip on supply chains, America must lead — mapping, mining, and mastering seabed resources. Strategic urgency demands action, not paralysis.

Metaculus Prediction


Public Figures


The Controversies



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