Trump Says He Did Not ‘Jump The Gun’ On South Korea Alaska LNG Investment Announcement
US President Donald Trump said he did not "jump the gun" in announcing a South Korean investment in Alaska LNG, a project that has been planned for decades but still lacks binding commitments. Trump had unveiled plans for South Korea to invest $200 billion in US projects, while Seoul suggested that a $54 billion pipeline for the Alaska LNG project was not yet set in stone. Trump also said the US trade deal with South Korea includes $8.4 billion for a project to push out crude from an aging oilfield, a claim an official from Seoul's industry ministry was reported to have been surprised by.
Why it matters: The episode shows how energy security announcements made at the political level can precede the binding commercial commitments that would give them effect.