US PROPOSES $5B FUND TO REBUILD GULF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE • TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES $5 BILLION TO KICKSTART A NEW MIDDLE EAST ENERGY REBUILDING FUND, WSJ REPORTS • US SEEKS MATCHING $5 BILLION FROM 8 REGIONAL PARTNERS, TARGETING A $10 BILLION FUND • PARTNERS COULD INCLUDE SAUDI ARABIA, UAE, QATAR, BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, OMAN, IRAQ AND JORDAN • FUND WOULD HELP REBUILD ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED DURING THE SEVEN-MONTH IRAN WAR • PLAN AIMS TO REDUCE GULF COUNTRIES' RELIANCE ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ FOR OIL AND GAS TRANSPORT • CONFLICT HAS DISRUPTED GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS AND DAMAGED REGIONAL PIPELINES AND REFINERIES • PROPOSED FUND WOULD BE CALLED THE PARTNERSHIP FOR ALLIED TRUST AND CONSTRUCTION — “PACT” • REBUILDING COULD REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AS DAMAGED ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IS COSTLY TO REPLACE