In a recent closed-door meeting, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba discussed a proposal to boost energy security in Asia by tapping into Alaska’s vast gas reserves. The conversation quickly turned to how Japan could help make the long-debated Alaska LNG project a reality, with Trump and his energy adviser, Doug Burgum, framing the venture as a win-win for both the U.S. and Japan.
According to sources briefed on the talks, Trump and Burgum presented the project as a strategic opportunity for Japan to reduce its reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports while addressing its trade imbalance with the U.S. Ishiba, eager to forge a positive relationship with Trump and avoid potential tariffs, voiced tentative support for the $44 billion project, despite Japan’s skepticism about its viability.
While Trump frequently referenced the project in public remarks following the meeting, Ishiba made no mention of it, and no details about the discussion appeared in the official readout. This highlights the delicate balance Japan is seeking to strike between pursuing closer ties with the U.S. and managing internal concerns over the project’s feasibility.
The Trump administration appears to be recalibrating U.S.-East Asia relations by leveraging American fossil fuels, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG), to strengthen economic ties and counterbalance the influence of China and Russia. According to interviews with current and former officials, the U.S. is positioning LNG sales as a solution to Asian nations’ concerns about trade tariffs and the security of critical maritime energy routes.
Japan, as the world’s second-largest LNG importer, plays a key role in this strategy. The country’s participation would be instrumental in opening new markets for U.S. gas, particularly in Southeast Asia. “If the Trump administration gets its way, U.S. LNG would flow in massive quantities to Japan and South Korea, and then spread to Southeast Asia, reshaping global energy dependencies,” said Kenneth Weinstein, Japan chair at the Hudson Institute.
In a joint statement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers agreed to enhance energy security by investing in “affordable and reliable” American energy, with a focus on LNG. However, no direct mention of Alaska was made in the statement.
A key element of the talks involved highlighting the strategic benefits of the Alaska LNG project, which would avoid sensitive shipping chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the South China Sea. Additionally, U.S. LNG would provide an alternative to Russian gas for Asian countries. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, who represents Alaska, emphasized that the project was a central topic during the meeting, and the U.S. officials used maps to underscore the project’s strategic importance.
While the project faces significant cost and logistical challenges, it has sparked interest from potential investors like Inpex, a Tokyo-based oil and gas company. Japan currently imports around 10% of its LNG from the U.S., with the remainder sourced from Russia, the Middle East, and Australia. Over the next five to ten years, U.S. LNG could make up as much as 20% of Japan’s total imports, analysts predict.
Beyond Japan, other Asian nations are also considering increased U.S. energy imports. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently discussed a similar LNG deal with Trump, while Taiwan and South Korea are exploring further collaboration with the U.S. on energy security. In particular, Taiwan’s interest in U.S. LNG could provide leverage in countering China’s ambitions in the region.
Trump’s energy strategy appears to be gaining traction in Asia, as the U.S. positions itself as a reliable energy partner while seeking to strengthen economic and security ties across the region.
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