South Korea bets on Texas gas plant as Lee and Trump welcome progress on US investment deals

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026.

South Korean President Lee and President Trump have welcomed progress on strategic US investment projects, with Seoul backing a major Texas liquefied natural gas plant as a centrepiece of its American economic engagement. The move signals South Korea's effort to satisfy Trump's demands for allied nations to invest heavily in the US economy.

The Texas gas plant deal forms part of a broader South Korean push to deepen strategic ties with Washington under Trump's second term.

Lee and Trump's joint endorsement of the investment progress suggests Seoul is manoeuvring to secure trade and tariff goodwill from the Trump administration.