President Trump didn't hold back when discussing his latest call with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, telling journalists gathered in the Oval Office that the conversation had gone well and that he's optimistic Britain will greenlight new North Sea drilling as a result.
"That will make the UK pretty rich, I'll tell you," Trump told reporters, framing the region's untapped reserves as a potential economic windfall. According to the President, Britain is grappling with a serious energy shortfall, and unlocking more of the North Sea's resources could be the fix it needs. He went further, describing the potential move as "a big thing" and repeating his belief that opening up the area would leave the UK considerably wealthier, calling it one of the most significant oil and gas discoveries anywhere on the planet.
A Timeline That's Hard to Pin Down
What's murkier is exactly when this supposed conversation took place. Trump, who campaigned on a "drill, baby, drill" platform before returning to office, has made similar claims before notably after he and Burnham spoke on the phone during the Prime Minister's very first day in the role last month. Back then, Trump said Burnham had assured him he'd move to open up the North Sea.
Burnham tells a slightly different story. Rather than a full commitment to expanded drilling, he says he described his stance to Trump as a "pragmatic approach" language that leaves plenty of room for caution alongside development.
Industry Pressure and Two Key Projects
Trump's remarks arrive just as energy companies ramp up lobbying efforts, urging the UK government to sign off on two contentious North Sea ventures: the Jackdaw gas field near Aberdeen and the Rosebank oil field off the coast of Shetland. Both projects have cleared their public consultation periods, meaning the final call now rests with government ministers.
Word around Westminster suggests Burnham may be edging toward approving Jackdaw, even as debate over Rosebank continues.
Split Opinions on the Way Forward
Backers of the two schemes point to the economic upside job creation, industry growth, and the possibility of easing household energy costs. Critics, particularly climate campaigners, see it differently, warning that greenlighting new fossil fuel extraction runs counter to the UK's climate commitments and risks deepening the environmental crisis.
For its part, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero struck a middle ground on Monday. A spokesperson said the North Sea continues to be a cornerstone of the UK economy, supporting employment and bolstering energy security, while stressing that oil and gas will remain part of the country's energy mix for years to come even as the government works toward a broader shift to clean power.
Whether Trump's optimism translates into an actual policy shift remains to be seen, but with industry pressure building and a decision now sitting with ministers, the coming weeks could prove decisive for the future of North Sea drilling.
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