However, a senior Trump administration official clarified that the proposal had not reached the president or his advisers for discussion.The port plan forms part of a broader push by Pakistani officials to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Engagement at Pasni would counterbalance Gwadar and expand US influence in the Arabian Sea and Central Asia. "It also flagged potential dual-use concerns at China’s Gwadar port under the Belt and Road Initiative, alluding to fears it could serve as a naval base, a claim denied by Islamabad and Beijing. "Missouri-based US Strategic Metals (USSM) has shown early interest, signing a memorandum of understanding in September with Pakistan’s military engineering corps. "Late last month, Pakistan shipped a small first consignment of fewer than two tonnes of critical minerals, including copper, antimony, and neodymium, to USSM.