Trump Eyes Asia Backing for $44B Alaska LNG Project at June Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Energy Security Council plans to host a summit in Alaska around June 2, aiming to secure commitments from Japan and South Korea for the $44 billion Alaska LNG project. The massive initiative would deliver natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope via an 800-mile pipeline, supplying U.S. needs and exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asian markets—bypassing the Panama Canal.

Trump has long promoted U.S. energy exports as a pillar of energy security and trade leverage. He reportedly urged Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to support the project. Last month, Taiwan’s state-run CPC Corp signed a non-binding agreement with the Alaska Gasline Development Corp to purchase LNG and invest, a move President Lai Ching-te said boosts Taiwan’s energy security.

Despite years of discussion, the Alaska LNG project has been hindered by high costs and complex infrastructure needs. The upcoming summit, organized by Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council, aims to reignite momentum with potential commitments from key Asian allies.

Officials from South Korea and Thailand are expected to visit Alaska in the coming weeks to evaluate the project. It would mark the first time Thai representatives visit the state for this purpose during Trump’s second term. South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, currently in Washington, confirmed that Seoul is dispatching a due diligence team but emphasized that no decision has been made.

The White House and U.S. Interior Department declined to comment on the summit. The Alaska LNG project remains a focal point in Trump’s broader strategy to strengthen U.S. energy dominance while deepening trade ties with Asia through strategic energy cooperation.