This bill matters because it concerns how the United States protects its interests in the vast and increasingly important global oceans. If the U.S. ratifies UNCLOS, it would transition from relying on 'customary international law'—which is less formal and can be debated—to having a clear, treaty-based legal standing. This means a stronger ability to challenge countries that make excessive claims to ocean territory or restrict navigation, such as in the South China Sea or the Arctic.

By joining, the U.S. would also gain a formal voice in decisions about deep-sea mining, which is crucial for accessing critical minerals needed for modern technologies. If the U.S. does not ratify, it remains an outlier among major nations and continues to limit its ability to shape the future of ocean governance and effectively defend its maritime interests in an increasingly competitive global environment.