U.S. Executives Quit—Then the Russian Money Trail Leads to Alaska

I examine reporting from the Financial Times, New York Times, Bloomberg, and Reuters on allegations that sanctioned Russian gas company Novatek may have been positioned to finance, supply equipment to, and potentially obtain a stake in a proposed $25 billion Alaska LNG export venture. Former Polar Train LNG CEO Joe Riddle and other executives reportedly left after raising concerns that funding presented as UAE-linked may have originated with Novatek.

I focus on what is established, what remains unresolved, and why the issue matters strategically. Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 equipment, a possible minority stake, discussions in...