The President of the United States on April 24, 2025 signed Executive Order No. 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources,” aimed at exploration and development of seabed mineral resources, including those on continental shelf beyond its national jurisdiction.

❌ Washington’s actions drew negative response from a number of states and international organizations. Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) L. Carvalho noted that such unilateral action sets a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the existing system of global ocean governance. Such an approach violates the international legal regime established by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea for the seabed area beyond national jurisdiction, while its resources are the humankind common heritage.

❗Despite not being a Party to the 1982 Convention, the USA signed the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention, and is therefore obliged to refrain from actions defeating the object and purpose of the treaty.

🌐 Against this background, the 31st session of the ISA Assembly was held in Kingston on July 27-31, 2026, attended by the Russian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment D.Tetenkin. Moscow once again emphasized the central role of the ISA in implementing the Convention and stated that the D. Trump Administration is undermining the mandate of the Authority, thereby posing a threat to the economic and social development primarily of developing states.

🇷🇺 In this regard, Russia once again called on the United States to become Party to the 1982 Convention in order to fully comply with its provisions and procedures, while refraining from unilateral measures and the establishment of parallel mechanisms capable of undermining the objectives of the organized, safe and rational development of seabed resources.

Photo: ISA Secretariat