Deep sea mining, however, may not be the only way the U.S. hopes to ramp up its mineral supply. The Trump Administration has also declared its intent to seize control of Greenland —rich in minerals like zinc and graphite—and push for a deal that would give the U.S. a major stake in Ukraine’s natural resources.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order intended to accelerate offshore mining and open new opportunities for extracting critical materials from the ocean floor despite the objections of environmentalists.