Donald Trump Pressures South Korea Over Alaska LNG Deal

President Donald Trump pressured South Korea to finalize its participation in a $50 billion Alaska LNG project, warning that the country could pay "double" if it does not sign shortly. The demand follows an announcement that South Korea plans to invest $200 billion in United States energy infrastructure, including an 807-mile pipeline in Alaska, eight nuclear power plants, and a 6-gigawatt gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas.

These energy projects are part of a larger $350 billion strategic package agreed upon during a trade deal last year, which also includes $150 billion for shipbuilding. While the White House frames the investments as a way to unleash American energy, South Korean officials state the projects are not yet finalized. Seoul is currently assessing the commercial viability and legal compliance of the Alaska LNG project.

Further discrepancies emerged after Trump announced an $8.4 billion enhanced oil recovery project on Truth Social. South Korea's industry ministry reported it found no such project in existing agreements and is seeking clarification. In South Korea, opposition lawmakers and the parliament trade committee have raised concerns regarding the fiscal risks of the package, questioning the commercial rationale of investments that place a heavy burden on the public.