Gov. Mark Gordon is piling up the frequent flier miles, traveling around the world on behalf of the state.
The cross-continental trip is based around promoting Wyoming, visiting with the state’s members of the military stationed overseas and building international trade alliances. After visiting the Middle East, Gordon will continue on to East Asia where he’ll visit Japan and Taiwan.
Middle East First
On Wednesday, Gordon traveled to Jordan and met with King Abdullah II to address setting up a strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, as well as enhancing the country’s economic cooperation with Wyoming.
Gordon’s spokesperson Michael Pearlman said they discussed opportunities for Wyoming industries in Jordan. The visit also included a Wyoming military leadership team.
Earlier in the week, Gordon visited with more than 400 members of the Wyoming Army National Guard deployed across the Middle East. Gordon has visited troops overseas multiple times since taking office in 2019.
The Wyoming soldiers Gordon met with are deployed with the 115th Field Artillery Brigade and the 2-300th Field Artillery Regiment. U.S. Sen. John Barrasso met with these same troops last month.
“These soldiers have been away from their families and their jobs for a long time, and we should recognize the hardship this creates on them and their families back home,” Gordon said in a statement. “I ask that we thank family members of our deployed folks whenever you can, and show our appreciation to the employers who understand the importance of our Guard mission. I look forward to seeing them again and greeting them on their return home.”
During his visit, Pearlman said Gordon shared meals with soldiers, received briefings on operations and recognized soldiers for outstanding achievements with coining ceremonies. The Governor’s Challenge Coin recognizes people and groups who have demonstrated exceptional service or dedication to the state.
Joining Gordon on this leg of the trip is his policy director, Randall Luthi, and members of Wyoming’s military leadership, including Maj. Gen. Gregory Porter.
Gordon said the Wyoming Guard members have earned high praise across the military for their performance.
“It has been an honor to spend a few days visiting the men and women of our Wyoming National Guard,” Gordon said. “I saw them off last year knowing they would be deployed for months, but understanding that the mission was critical to our homeland’s defense.
“I also knew our Cowboy Guard would represent Wyoming with cowboy pride and ride for the brand.”
In addition to visiting the troops, the governor had visits at the U.S. embassies of Kuwait and Jordan; ministers of energy and oil and industry officials, including representatives of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, to discuss similarities in oil, gas, minerals development and rare earth minerals.
“These discussions were high level and very preliminary, exploring the opportunities for Wyoming industries to assist in the development of important energy and minerals,” Pearlman said.
Rare earth minerals in particular will be increasingly critical for Wyoming’s future as the American need for these products in the modern day world increases and avoiding dependence on China for them becomes more and more important.
On To Asia
Gordon is continuing his trip in Taiwan as part of a trade mission to expand the markets of Wyoming’s core industries.
Joining Gordon on this leg of the trip is Rob Creager, executive director of the Wyoming Energy Authority; Holly Krutka, director of the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources; University of Wyoming professor Jinke Tang; and Vice President of Jonah Energy and UW board of trustees member Paul Ulrich.
The Wyoming trade delegation plans to promote the state’s gas, coal and rare earth minerals while there.
Taiwan has also been a particular focus for Wyoming for some time, with the Wyoming Business Council operating a Wyoming-Asia Pacific Trade Office in Taipei, Taiwan since 2018.
After Taiwan, the delegation will move on to Japan.
In addition to meeting with key government leaders and visiting with companies interested in Wyoming products, the governor and his delegation will attend a reception at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence.
The ambassador, George Glass, is a prominent businessman known for his background in finance, investment banking and technology. Glass will play a key role in negotiating with Japan President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, which have triggered worldwide concern about their impact on the economy and global trade.
Wyoming and Japan have worked together on coal research and development of technologies and coal trade since 2016, when a memorandum of understanding was signed by then-Governor Matt Mead and the Japan Carbon Frontier Organization.
