Mauritius Gains 145,000 Sq Km of Ocean Territory with Potential Rare Earths, Drawing U.S. Interest
Mauritius has received approval from the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental shelf by over 145,000 square kilometers. This expansion, following a claim around Rodrigues Island, grants Mauritius greater rights over seabed resources, including polymetallic nodules that contain valuable elements such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements. The decision reinforces Mauritius's economic standing and its position in the growing ocean economy. Former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth described the approval as a significant milestone for the nation's sovereignty and economic future. The claim was supported by geological and oceanographic surveys indicating that Mauritius’ continental shelf naturally extends beyond the current 200-nautical-mile limit. This development aligns with a broader trend of small island states leveraging their maritime zones as strategic assets for critical minerals essential for clean energy and advanced technologies. 
