Former U.S. President Donald Trump said to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the United Kingdom should allow drilling of North Sea oil reserves [1].
The proposal highlights a fundamental clash between Trump's energy philosophy and the U.K.'s current environmental trajectory. If adopted, such a move would reverse a significant shift in British energy policy intended to combat climate change.
Trump said that reopening the North Sea for oil drilling would lower energy bills and reduce reliance on renewable energy [2, 3]. He said renewable energy sources are ineffective [2, 3]. According to reports, Trump branded the U.K. as "crazy" for not drilling in the region [3].
The request comes after the British government ended new North Sea exploration licences in 2023 [3]. This decision was part of a broader effort to transition the national economy away from fossil fuels, a strategy that Trump suggests is detrimental to the cost of living.
While some reports indicate Trump spoke directly to Starmer on April 16, 2026, other accounts focus on his general criticism of the U.K.'s energy stance [1, 3]. The disagreement underscores a recurring theme in Trump's approach to global energy, emphasizing domestic production over international climate targets.
The U.K. government has not issued a formal response to the suggestion. The tension remains centered on whether immediate energy price relief outweighs the long-term goals of the green energy transition.
“Trump argued that reopening the North Sea for oil drilling would lower energy bills”
This interaction signals a potential ideological rift in the special relationship between the US and the UK regarding climate policy. By advocating for fossil fuel expansion, Trump is challenging the U.K.'s commitment to net-zero targets and suggesting that energy security and affordability should take precedence over environmental mandates.
