08.16.23

Ahead of Trilateral Summit, Sen. Sullivan, Rep. Kim Urge Biden To Promote American Energy Infrastructure & Exports

WASHINGTON—As President Biden prepares to host a trilateral summit between the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Representative Young Kim (R-CA) urged the President to promote American energy infrastructure and exports in a letter sent to the President earlier this week. Senator Sullivan and Representative Kim emphasize the importance of unleashing American energy and energy cooperation, particularly with regards to liquefied natural gas (LNG), to strengthen America’s national security and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. 

“Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine has transformed geopolitics - and nowhere is that more evident than its impact on global energy markets,” Senator Sullivan and Representative Kim write. “We are in a new era of authoritarian aggression led by dictators in Russia, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Iran. These regimes each pose a grave threat to the ability of our allies - particularly those in the Indo-Pacific - to secure an available supply of energy resources and the sea lanes used to transport such resources. . .

“While the United States has led the world in helping European nations wean their reliance on Russian energy sources, particularly through increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, there is significantly more we can do for our allies in Asia.

“Energy cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region presents a unique and critical opportunity for the United States to reinforce its long-standing alliances and push back against the threat of these hostile dictatorships. As Japan and the ROK seek to secure alternative sources of energy, the United States should do everything in its power to help provide them. Our nation has the resources and expertise to make certain the sort of energy crisis that has unfolded in Europe is not repeated in Asia.”

Read the full letter below or click here.

Dear Mr. President,

We appreciate your continued attention to strengthening cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK). As you prepare for the upcoming trilateral summit with the two nations at Camp David, we want to emphasize the importance of ensuring that international energy cooperation is central to the dialogue, and that the United States does everything in its power

Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine has transformed geopolitics - and nowhere is that more evident than its impact on global energy markets. We are in a new era of authoritarian aggression led by dictators in Russia, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Iran. These regimes each pose a grave threat to the ability of our allies - particularly those in the Indo-Pacific - to secure an available supply of energy resources and the sea lanes used to transport such resources. While the United States has led the world in helping European nations wean themselves off their reliance on Russian energy sources, particularly through increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, there is significantly more we can do for our allies in Asia.

Energy cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region presents a unique and critical opportunity for the United States to reinforce its long-standing alliances and push back against the threat of these hostile dictatorships. As Japan and the ROK seek to secure alternative sources of energy, the United States should do everything in its power to help provide them. Our nation has the resources and expertise to make certain the sort of energy crisis that has unfolded in Europe is not repeated in Asia.

This begins by supporting and promoting the development of new energy infrastructure projects and exports - such as LNG - from the United States throughout the Indo-Pacific. In this way, we both reaffirm our commitment to Japan and the ROK and put the benefit of strategic alliance at the disposal of the broader region's energy needs.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently reinforced this point in their "LNG Strategy for the World," finding that "further investments in LNG import and regasification facilities will likely be required in Southeast Asia and South Asia." Indeed, the IEA and METI also point out that "if investment into natural gas/LNG is insufficient, a tightness could occur before a demand decline, putting global energy security at risk." Therefore, it is crucial to counter the nefarious designs that authoritarians have on the liberal international order by protecting the energy and national security interests the United States shares with its allies in the Indo-Pacific.

At Camp David, we hope you will advocate for the United States' trilateral alliance with Japan and the ROK by backing them with the full force of our nation's strengths and supporting their energy security interests. Such attention to this matter will advance our shared security goals and promote regional stability. Thank you for your consideration.

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