Exclusive: Trump-Linked Financier Pursues Alaska Gas Deal with Sanctioned Russian Giant
MOSCOW/ANCHORAGE – A prominent American financier closely aligned with former President Donald Trump's political circle has quietly moved to partner with a sanctioned Russian energy titan on natural gas development in Alaska, a New York Times investigation revealed Friday. The deal, in its formative stages, underscores the intricate and often controversial intersection of global energy ambitions, high-stakes diplomacy, and personal political connections.
The agreement between Gentry Beach, chairman of the investment firm America First Global, and Russia's Novatek was signed last autumn. It aims to leverage Novatek's Arctic liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology for projects in remote northern Alaska. This development follows the high-profile meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August, where discussions to end the war in Ukraine were paired with talks on potential U.S.-Russian energy cooperation.
Sources familiar with the August summit told Reuters that several energy proposals were floated on the sidelines, seen by some officials as potential incentives for Moscow to pursue a peace deal in Ukraine, which is now in its fourth year, and for a future easing of Western sanctions. The Beach-Novatek understanding appears to be a private-sector manifestation of those broader diplomatic overtures.
"The project is in very early stages and faces significant hurdles," Beach acknowledged to the Times, declining to share financial specifics. Novatek offered a measured confirmation to the newspaper, stating it was "indeed having negotiations on the potential use" of its LNG technology in Alaska but did not explicitly name Beach as a partner. Neither party responded to subsequent requests for comment from Reuters.
Beach is a long-time figure in Trump's orbit. He helped fundraise for Trump's 2016 campaign, contributed to the "America First" policy framework, and is a reported college friend of Donald Trump Jr. His firm, America First Global, holds interests across energy, mining, and infrastructure.
The potential deal strikes at the heart of a policy dilemma: can strategic energy projects serve as a tool for conflict resolution, or do they risk undermining the sanctions regime designed to pressure the Kremlin? With Europe having pivoted away from Russian pipeline gas, Novatek is increasingly focused on expanding its global LNG footprint, while Alaska has long sought investment to develop its vast, stranded gas resources.
Reaction & Analysis
"This is precisely the kind of strategic, long-term thinking we need," said Michael Thorne, an energy analyst at the Arctic Policy Institute. "If structured with strict oversight, developing Alaskan gas with the world's leading Arctic LNG expertise could boost U.S. energy security and create a tangible incentive for de-escalation. It's a pragmatic, if controversial, diplomatic channel."
"The audacity is breathtaking," fired back Senator Elena Vargas (D-CA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "While Ukrainian soldiers fight and die, Trump's allies are cutting business deals with a Russian sanctioned war machine. It sends a catastrophic message: American policy can be bypassed by well-connected financiers pursuing profit with our adversaries. This isn't diplomacy; it's appeasement and opportunism."
"The regulatory and political hurdles are immense," noted David Chen, a partner at a Washington-based international trade law firm. "Any actual project would need to navigate a thicket of sanctions, export controls, and likely congressional scrutiny. This is less a done deal and more a high-stakes feasibility study testing the boundaries of current policy."
"Alaska needs the jobs and the revenue," said Sarah Kompkoff, a small business owner in Anchorage. "But we're wary of being a pawn in a global game. Any development must first and foremost benefit Alaskans, adhere to our environmental standards, and truly be in the national interest—not just the interest of a few powerful people."