Published
March 16, 2026
The first-ever Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) concluded on March 15 in Tokyo, Japan. This landmark event convened three U.S. cabinet secretaries and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for two days of panel discussions and deal announcements that spanned the Indo-Pacific. In all, 18 countries and over 140 companies were represented.
Co-hosted by the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) alongside the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the event was a resounding success, announcing deals to strengthen energy security on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, through its Global Energy Institute and U.S.-Japan Business Council, supported member companies by helping them participate and highlighting U.S. industry initiatives. Held just days before a summit between President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the event was a high-powered display of U.S. public and private commitment to the region’s energy security at a time of heightened uncertainty.
Companies and government agencies from the U.S., Japan, Australia, and South Korea announced 22 deals totaling more than $57 billion and spanning the energy landscape, from LNG to nuclear to critical minerals. While some of these deals may not fully materialize (not all deals ever do), they still represent a concerted effort to accelerate bilateral investments with the U.S., especially within the context of the burgeoning U.S.-Japan trade and investment relationship.
Notable deals include a 20-year offtake agreement between Venture Global LNG and Hanwha Aerospace for 1.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG cargoes valued at over $10 billion, a commitment by GE Vernova and Hitachi to explore applying their BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Southeast Asia, and a renewal of the memorandum of understanding between USTDA and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to strengthen financing for infrastructure projects across the region. Collectively, these deals underscore the shared commitment of the U.S. public and private sectors to growing energy infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific.
That commitment is only expected to grow following this week. And perhaps that is the biggest story yet-to-be-reported. There’s a reason the event was not just a multilateral Ministerial, but also a "Business Forum."
More deals are coming, and there is significant momentum to not just expand the mutually beneficial bilateral commercial relationships, but to also capitalize on exponentially growing energy demand in the United States and the Indo-Pacific. Which is to say, these deals are motivated by the potential of both significant profits and increased energy security.
About the author
Christopher Guith
Christopher Guith leads the development of the Energy Institute’s policies and messaging relating to oil and natural gas and nuclear energy.
