Today’s Key Takeaways: U.S. slams India for buying Russian oil. Russian icebreakers considered for Alaska gas development? Betting big on LNG. Australia interest in Alaska mining. Dunleavy clears the air on Alaska-Russia minerals deal.
OIL:
Trump’s Adviser Navarro Slams India for Buying Russian Oil
Clara Ferreira Marques, Shruti Srivastava, Bloomberg, August 18, 2025
The dramatic increase in India’s purchases of Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine is “opportunistic and deeply corrosive” of a global effort to isolate the Kremlin and curb Vladimir Putin’s war machine, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote in the Financial Times.
In a strongly worded column, Navarro — long a hawkish voice and now an important force behind Donald Trump’s punitive global tariffs — linked India’s trade barriers and what he characterized as its financial support for Russia, depicting dealings that come at the expense of the US.
“American consumers buy Indian goods,” he said. “India uses those dollars to buy discounted Russian crude.”
India’s External Affairs Ministry didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on Navarro’s column. The South Asian country has defended its right to buy oil from the cheapest source. The threat of penalties and additional tariffs for buying Russian crude is “unreasonable” and “extremely unfortunate,” Randhir Jaiswal, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said earlier this month.
GAS:
Exclusive: US mulled use of Russia icebreakers for gas development ahead of summit – sources
Marwa Rashad, Anna Hirtenstein, Reuters, August 15, 2025
- Summary
- Trump-Putin summit to discuss Ukraine ceasefire and LNG project
- Alaska LNG project involves 800-mile pipeline for Asian exports
- Russia’s nuclear icebreaker vessels crucial for Northern Sea Route access
The United States has had internal discussions on using Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels to support the development of gas and LNG projects in Alaska as one of the possible deals to aim for when President Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin on Friday, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Trump landed in Alaska on Friday for what he called a “high stakes” summit with Russia’s Putin to discuss a ceasefire deal for Ukraine and end the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two.
Both the U.S. and Russian presidents, meeting at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska’s largest city, are seeking wins from their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House.
The icebreaker idea has been discussed among White House officials as one of the potential deals to try to strike with Russia at the Alaska summit, one of the sources said.
The ongoing talks between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine have included discussions about business deals. The White House is planning to continue this approach at the summit on Friday, said the source, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
Energy supermajors are betting big on LNG, shrugging off peak gas predictions
Sam Meredith, CNBC, August 18, 2025
Key Points
- Several oil majors are ramping up their investments in liquified natural gas (LNG), seeking to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on growing global demand.
- Energy analysts, however, have raised some concerns.
- The International Energy Agency has said it expects gas demand to plateau, or peak, by the end of the decade.
MINING:
Australia shows interest in Estelle, Alaska
Shane Lasley, North of 60 Mining News, August 15, 2025
Australian Consular-General Tanya Bennett visits gold project; discusses investment opportunities with Gov. Mike Dunleavy during Alaska tour.
During a recent visit to Alaska that included meetings with Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other state officials, Australian Consular-General Tanya Bennett touted Nova Minerals Ltd.’s Estelle gold-antimony project as an important example of the strong partnership between Australia and the United States on critical minerals and strategic resource security.
“It is a great example of collaboration between Australia and the U.S. on critical minerals, something that is so important to our economic security going forward,” Bennett said while standing on a drill pad at Estelle.
The Australian Consular-General is the latest on a growing list of dignitaries that Nova has hosted at Estelle or met with regarding the economic opportunities and national implications of the gold-antimony project about 100 miles northwest of Anchorage.
Matsu Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, Gov. Dunleavy, and Alaska’s delegation to Washington, DC, have all voiced support for Estelle and the proposed West Susitna Road that would connect the project to Alaska’s highway system.
“Momentum continues to build as the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project gains significant strategic recognition,” said Nova Minerals CEO Christopher Gerteisen.
POLITICS:
‘That’s not true:’ Governor calls out report of Alaska-Russian rare minerals deal
Will Courtney, Alaska’s News Source, August 15, 2025
Dunleavy says topic addressed during Air Force One meeting with Trump ahead of summit
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, R-AK, said after speaking with President Donald Trump ahead of the summit in Alaska that the rumor he is considering selling Russia Alaskan minerals to help broker a deal to end the Ukraine war are just “rumors.”
“I just got off of Air Force One for a meeting with the President,” Dunleavy said in a video posted to social media. “We talked to the president about these rumors that Alaska’s minerals were gonna be sold off to the Russians or Alaska’s gas was gonna be transported by Russians. We spoke with him and some of his staff on the plane and that’s not true.”