As Trump returns to office and lifts the freeze on LNG export permit applications, the global LNG landscape is set for another shake-up. Importing countries are closely watching how the US leverages LNG in trade negotiations, while competing producers, particularly Qatar, brace for intensified competition. With its 80% expansion of the North Field announced in early 2024, Qatar must now navigate a market where US LNG suppliers offer more flexible, destination-free contracts.

In this interview, MEI Senior Research Fellow June Park speaks with Dr Steven Wright, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, to unpack the implications of these developments on the Gulf’s role in the global energy market.