President Donald Trump discussed major issues including North Sea oil development, trade, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz during a call with new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
According to Reuters on July 20, Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that he had a "very good conversation" with Prime Minister Burnham, addressing various topics such as North Sea oil, trade, military alliances, and the removal of mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
He added, "It was an interesting call and went very well," indicating that they would meet in the near future to discuss mutual interests, although he did not specify a timeline for the meeting.
The Prime Minister's office reported that Burnham conveyed the UK's commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities in defense and security and supporting the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked since the outbreak of war.
The North Sea oil development issue was a key agenda item during the call. Trump had previously mentioned on Truth Social that Burnham would take a more proactive approach to North Sea oil development, emphasizing the potential for the UK economy to recover.
Trump claimed that British citizens are "dancing in the streets" over Burnham's stance on North Sea oil, stating, "The UK has tremendous potential, but everything starts with opening up North Sea oil," asserting that increasing domestic production would revitalize the UK economy and reduce dependence on energy imports.
Trump, who is advocating for low oil prices, has repeatedly criticized the UK's North Sea oil policy during the tenure of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claiming that Starmer completely failed on the North Sea oil issue and urging for an expansion of oil and gas production.
However, the UK Labour Party maintains that Burnham's government will not completely overturn existing energy policies. Lucy Powell, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, told the BBC that while Burnham will adopt a bolder and more pragmatic approach in policy implementation, the commitment not to issue new exploration licenses for North Sea oil and gas will remain in place ahead of the 2024 general election.
BBC reported that Burnham may show a more favorable attitude toward certain oil and gas drilling projects that have already secured licenses while maintaining the overall energy policy direction of the Labour Party.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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