By GOV. MIKE DUNLEAVY
Editor’s note: The following opinion was published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday:
President Trump’s bold confrontation with Iran is a strategic master stroke. Combined with U.S. pressure on Venezuela, the war affects Beijing’s access to the discounted oil on which the Chinese economy depends while potentially reshaping energy markets and the balance of power globally.
It’s also a reminder that the U.S. must secure its own sources of energy and be ready to support allies through tough times. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are among the most energy-dependent economies on earth. They import virtually all their oil and gas. A significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that Iran is attempting to close. The mere threat of disruption affects global markets, insurance costs and long-term contract stability.
That’s where Alaska comes in. When complete, a major planned Alaskan LNG pipeline will enable exports of about 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas a day by 2030, ensuring energy security for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the entire region. The pipeline, beginning in Alaska’s North Slope, will provide gas that could last for many decades.
LNG leaving from Nikiski on Alaska’s southern coast will ship directly across the North Pacific to Tokyo, Seoul and other destinations. The route avoids contested waterways and maritime choke points. Unlike cargo moving from the Atlantic Basin or the Middle East, Alaska LNG doesn’t transit through the Panama Canal and thus doesn’t face canal congestion, water-level restrictions or geopolitical turmoil during passage.
This project is becoming a reality with strong political and institutional support. TotalEnergies signed a preliminary agreement in February with Glenfarne, lead developer of the Alaska LNG project, to export 2 million tons a year of LNG for 20 years.
As governor of Alaska, I have traveled to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea and seen firsthand how seriously our partners take energy security. It’s the foundation of economic and national security. Advanced economies depend on supply chains that are steady, predictable and insulated from geopolitical disruption. That’s why they’re eager for Alaskan gas.
Operation Epic Fury won’t be the last conflict with massive geopolitical ramifications. A crisis in the Taiwan Strait—which no American wants but defense strategists must plan for—would immediately threaten the sea lanes through which Asia’s energy flows.
Alaska gas reduces that exposure significantly. The North Pacific isn’t a conflict corridor. It’s a corridor of cooperation among allies. Gas sailing from Alaska to Tokyo, Seoul and other Asian ports travels across the open ocean without passing through Hormuz, the South China Sea or the Panama Canal. It moves from one stable democracy to another, governed by transparent regulations, enforceable contracts and aligned security partnerships.
Energy security isn’t only about price. It’s about confidence. Confidence that shipments won’t be interrupted by distant conflicts. Confidence that transit routes will remain open. Confidence that partners share common strategic interests.
When energy pioneers in Nikiski, Alaska, launched the first-ever LNG shipment to Japan in 1969, they made history. The U.S. quickly became the leading supplier of LNG across Asia. Now even more LNG can be produced and provided for our Asian allies. Alaska stands ready to deliver it directly across the Pacific securely and consistently for decades to come.
Mr. Dunleavy, a Republican, is governor of Alaska.
Alaska LNG project making steady progress as key decisions take shape
4 thoughts on “Gov. Mike Dunleavy: Energy security, courtesy of Alaska”
It’s no secret that access to oil has been the core motivation behind Middle East war, perhaps beginning with our invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. And now Trump and Netanyahu have led us to the trap of war with Iran. Trump has difficulty explaining the reason why we are there, because, i suspect, that even if he understood, he couldn’t articulate it due to his documented and professionally confirmed absence of both intellectual prowess and empathy. But assuming the Trump administration knows what it’s doing, each of the many war explanations reveals that basic supply and demand economics, as applied to the scarce resource of oil is in play. They have it, we want it, they are too fussy about pricing, we override with force.
The Trump cabal is attempting to increase the supply of oil available to us but has done nothing to tamp down our demand for oil; they’ve even purposely stymied energy sources like wind and solar, which would substitute for oil. If alternative energies were robustly supported, America might truly become energy independent. Pointing inert tiles at the sun is a very cheap and peaceful way to reduce the negative impacts of our addiction to oil.
Evan,
That’s a master class in Brandolini’s law if I’ve ever seen it. You pretty much hit every incorrect leftwing talking point you could shoehorn into two small paragraphs, well done. I’m sure you will get a couple commentators who have previously espoused antisemitic views to agree with some of what you’ve said, so there’s that.
Evan is the living embodiment of Brandolini’s,Law. Nearly everything he /she/ it posts is,an example
But. Mr Dunleavy. The people of Alaska are still too depressed too addicted too confused too illiterate to not know their neighbors especially difference between backward and forward as shown in the Legislature because we the few who vote put them there because they represent who are Alaskans and they are backward.
There is always something we put in the way for ourselves if it’s not us then it’s the federal government. Today it’s the people of Alaska and the 2026 legislature not moving forward.