Trump’s LNG diplomacy and how Asia got caught between gas and tariffs

[SINGAPORE] Energy security, thrust into the spotlight in 2022 by the Russia-Ukraine war, is once again facing a geopolitical stress test. This time, the pressure is coming from the US – and it comes with a pipeline.

In a bid to revive his push for energy dominance, US President Donald Trump is touting US liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a bargaining chip in trade talks. With the Jul 9 tariff deadline looming, some of Asia’s biggest energy buyers are scrambling, as tariff relief appears increasingly tied – among other demands – to buying American gas amid mounting economic pain.

According to shipping data provider Kpler in a Reuters report, US LNG shipments to Asia hit 1.86 million tonnes in May – the highest since December – and are poised to climb further. But with multiple countries now vying to secure volumes, supply could tighten, raising a geopolitical question of who’s willing to pay a premium to stay in Washington’s good books.