Exclusive: Pacific island’s new leader Lord Fakafānua discusses ‘exciting’ US partnership as critics fear impacts of seabed exploration
The recently elected leader of Tonga has described a deal to partner with the US on deep-sea mineral exploration as an “exciting development” amid concern in the small Pacific nation over the practice of seabed mining and the potential environmental impact.
Tonga is located in the South Pacific Ocean, a region attracting growing interest over whether critical minerals buried in the seabed could be extracted to help power industries and green technologies.
In some of his first comments on deep-sea mineral exploration, Lord Fatafehi Fakafānua told the Guardian that Tonga had a tradition and historical knowledge of the cultural practice, and the nation would be “cautious” in ocean exploration.
The US and Tonga struck a deal in February to cooperate to “advance marine scientific research for the responsible exploration of seabed mineral resources”. The statement, released on 26 February, said the two countries were “uniquely positioned” to work together in this field.
