Gentry Beach, an American investor closely tied to the Trump family, has entered into a preliminary agreement with Russian gas company Novatek to develop a gas extraction project in northern Alaska. This agreement comes at a time when the Kremlin is actively proposing economic cooperation with the U.S. under what is termed the "Dmitriev Package", which includes offers worth up to $12 trillion aimed at revitalizing the economic relationship between the two countries.

The agreement has raised eyebrows, particularly as it involves Novatek, a company controlled by Leonid Michelson, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House has neither confirmed nor denied any connection between Beach's business activities and U.S. state diplomacy. Nevertheless, the timing of the agreement coincides with increasing talks about a 'peace dividend' from the Kremlin, which encompasses not only joint energy ventures but also the return of billions in ExxonMobil assets and access to Arctic resources that could enhance U.S. competition with China.

Political geographer Romancov has suggested that this situation could mark the beginning of a new phenomenon in U.S. politics, indicating a shift towards oligarchic influences within American governance. The potential implications of this agreement extend beyond business interests; they touch on larger themes of international relations and the evolving dynamics of U.S.-Russia cooperation in energy and economic sectors, especially as global rivalries intensify amid competition with China.