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Motegi Meets ISA Chief on Deep-Sea Resource Rules

Foreign Minister Motegi Meets International Seabed Authority Secretary-General Carvalho

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, in a dark pinstripe suit with a striped tie, gestures welcomingly with his right hand while smiling, stands beside Letícia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, who wears a white blouse, black suit jacket, and glasses, with hands clasped in front, in a formal wooden-paneled office featuring a Japanese flag, potted plant, and armchairs.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi receives Letícia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, for a courtesy call in Tokyo on November 25, 2025.

Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a courtesy meeting with Ms. Letícia Reis de CARVALHO, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), on November 25 at 5:30 p.m. The discussion lasted for approximately 15 minutes. Ms. Carvalho is visiting Japan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Discussion Highlights

At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Motegi welcomed Secretary-General Carvalho to Japan and acknowledged the ISA’s ongoing role in overseeing exploration activities involving mineral resources in the Area as well as its contributions to marine science since its establishment.

Minister Motegi emphasized Japan’s commitment to supporting a maritime order founded on the rule of law and conveyed his expectations for Secretary-General Carvalho’s continued leadership. He also highlighted the importance of promptly formulating regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area that balance environmental conservation with the utilization of marine resources, adding that Japan will engage constructively in related discussions.

Secretary-General Carvalho expressed her appreciation for Japan’s support to the ISA and conveyed her expectation for Japan to remain actively involved in the organization’s work, including efforts toward the timely development of regulations on resource exploitation in the Area.

International Seabed Authority

The International Seabed Authority was created on November 16, 1994, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with all States Parties to the Convention as members. The Secretariat is based in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. The ISA’s primary mandate is to administer mineral resources in the Area, defined as the seabed, ocean floor, and subsoil beyond national jurisdiction, recognized by the Convention as the common heritage of mankind. The organization is responsible for organizing and overseeing activities in the Area in accordance with UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement on the implementation of Part XI of the Convention.

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