Trump unveils $200bn South Korean US investment

US President Donald Trump has announced plans for South Korea to invest up to $200 billion in major US projects, including nuclear power plants, energy infrastructure and a large power-generation facility in Texas.

Trump said the investment was part of a broader $350 billion strategic package agreed between Washington and Seoul under a trade deal. The package includes $150 billion earmarked for shipbuilding and another $200 billion for strategic investments.

The White House said the planned investments would cover eight large nuclear power plants, an Alaska natural gas pipeline and a 6-gigawatt gas-fired power project in Texas.

However, South Korea has indicated that the proposed $54 billion investment in the Alaska LNG project is not yet final. Seoul said the project must first pass commercial and legal reviews before any investment decision is made.

South Korea’s industry ministry said no final decision had been taken on either the investment or its size. President Lee Jae Myung also said the commercial viability of the LNG project and nuclear facilities must be confirmed before proceeding.

Under the proposed Alaska LNG project, an 807-mile pipeline would transport natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to a liquefaction facility on the southern coast. The project is designed to move around 3.9 billion cubic feet of gas per day and produce up to 20 million metric tons of LNG annually.

The project has faced years of uncertainty over financing, costs and commercial viability. Trump has repeatedly promoted it as a way to increase US energy exports and strengthen ties with Asian allies.

South Korea has separately confirmed a $22.3 billion investment in a Texas gas-fired power project intended to supply energy to facilities such as semiconductor plants and artificial intelligence data centers. Seoul also plans to invest about $120 billion in eight US nuclear reactors.

The Alaska LNG project still needs additional commitments before a final investment decision can be made. Its developer has secured agreements covering about 13 million tons of annual LNG capacity but is seeking another 3 million tons.

The investment plans are expected to strengthen economic and energy cooperation between Washington and Seoul, although the two sides still need to settle key commercial and legal details before some projects move forward.