The United States is rapidly emerging as a key potential exporter to Asia of natural gas, and perhaps even oil in the longer term, after several decades of heavy dependence on imports of these major sources of energy. How will the U.S. wield its new strategic leverage?
Building energy ties with Japan, as part of a broader strengthening of commercial links and the military alliance between the world's largest and third-largest economies, is expected to be an early result.
Other Asian allies and security partners of the U.S., among them South Korea, India and Taiwan, are likely to receive similar favorable treatment from Washington.