# Trump Shifts U.S.-Pakistan Ties

> Trump's business deals with Pakistan could reshape U.S. ties but face political uncertainty.
- Title: Trump Shifts U.S.-Pakistan Ties · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Trump's business deals with Pakistan could reshape U.S. ties but face political uncertainty. Trump's administration has prioritized economic ties with…
- Keywords: pakistan, trump, lpg, liquefied natural gas, pakistan-us, trade, congress, democrats, midterms, Foreign Policy
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/04/pakistan-us-trump-business-ties-lng-project
- Author: Michael Kugelman
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: pakistan, us, trump, lpg, liquefied natural gas, pakistan-us, trade, congress, democrats, midterms
## U.S. Mulls LNG Project in Pakistan
A proposed $4.4 billion liquefied natural gas project in Port Qasim near Karachi would be Pakistan's first LNG storage facility.
## Trump Administration Prioritizes Pakistan
The U.S. has shifted focus from security to economic ties with Pakistan, including pushing for U.S. crude oil imports and ending a soybean export ban.
## Pakistan's Economic Opportunities
Pakistan has capitalized on U.S. interest in its critical minerals and cryptocurrency resources, offering to build a port on the Arabian Sea.
## Midterm Elections Impact
With Democrats controlling both houses of Congress starting in January, U.S. business deals with Pakistan face increased scrutiny.
## Political Uncertainty
Pakistan's leaders express curiosity about improved U.S. ties but worry about their sustainability due to Trump's unpredictability.
## U.S. Policy Review Needed
The U.S. last officially updated its Pakistan policy in August 2017, highlighting the need for a formal review of bilateral relations.
## LNG Project Details
The project includes a 680-mile delivery pipeline and is backed by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, International Development Finance Corp., and Export-Import Bank.
## Economic Ties Under Scrutiny
The Trump administration's commercial focus on Pakistan is driven by presidential whims and family economic interests, but may not last beyond his term.
## Historical Context
Bilateral ties were downgraded after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, shifting from a security-focused approach to economic engagement.
## U.S. Energy Policy Shift
The U.S. has pushed for Pakistan to import more energy supplies, including receiving its first shipment of U.S. crude oil in October 2025.
## Political Challenges
Pakistan's leaders fear the relationship may not survive Trump's lame-duck period and a Democratic Congress.
## U.S. Policy Review
The U.S. needs to conduct a formal review of its Pakistan policy to ensure stability amid political changes in both countries.
## Key takeaway

Trump's administration has prioritized economic ties with Pakistan through a $4.4 billion LNG project, but Democratic control of Congress may undermine the relationship.