Brookfield Asset Management's $20 billion AI infrastructure venture with Qatar's sovereign wealth fund remains on track despite escalating conflict in the Middle East, CEO Connor Teskey said Tuesday. The US-Israeli war in Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has caused regional disruptions including drone strikes on Amazon data centers, but Teskey said the turmoil hasn't changed Brookfield's investment plans.

Teskey emphasized that Brookfield focuses on asset performance and long-term opportunities in the Middle East, which he called an "incredible" region with growing global influence. The New York-based firm is positioning itself as a major player in the AI buildout, which Teskey expects will require roughly $7 trillion in capital investment over the next decade. Brookfield has already invested in data-center operators and acquired stakes in power utilities benefiting from surging AI-related power demand.

The company is expanding its AI infrastructure footprint through multiple partnerships, including a $10 billion fund with Kuwait Investment Authority dedicated to AI infrastructure. Teskey, who became CEO in February, said Brookfield's long-term investment strategy means regional conflicts won't deter their Middle East expansion plans.