Seabed Mining Is New Front in US Versus the World: Liam Denning

Another chunk of that crumbling edifice known as Pax Americana just fell into the sea — and sank right to the bottom. A would-be deep sea miner’s application for a US license to exploit a patch of the Pacific seabed, triggered by an executive order from President Donald Trump, marks a fundamental break with the so-called rules-based order as it pertains to the deep. As with so much US policy these days, the order identifies a real challenge but addresses it with all the subtlety of a depth charge.

The Metals Company Inc., based in Canada, is seeking a license from ...