Former US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the UK government’s plan to phase out North Sea oil and gas production. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the decision a “very big mistake” and urged the UK to “open up the North Sea” and “get rid of windmills.”
Trump’s comments appear to target the Labour government’s recent environmental policies under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. These remarks follow a November report detailing APA Corporation’s decision to exit North Sea operations by 2029, citing high taxes and stringent environmental regulations. Notably, APA, which owns US oil producer Apache, had already ceased drilling in the region by June 2023, prior to Labour’s election victory in July.
The critique underscores Trump’s opposition to Starmer’s fossil fuel phase-out agenda, a cornerstone of Labour’s climate policy. His comments signal a continuation of his past practice of weighing in on foreign domestic policies, raising concerns over potential tensions in US-UK relations during his administration.
Trump’s stance echoes recent critiques of Labour by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has aligned himself with pro-fossil fuel policies. Musk, recently appointed by Trump to co-lead a US waste-cutting initiative, has also criticized net zero targets on social media. These shared positions complicate diplomatic relations, especially as Musk’s public support for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party—which advocates scrapping net zero policies—diverges from Starmer’s climate goals.
In an effort to maintain strong ties with the incoming US administration, Starmer has appointed Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington and encouraged diplomatic engagement between Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Trump’s team. However, the growing alignment of the Conservative Party with Trump’s pro-oil stance adds domestic political pressure. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, a self-proclaimed “net zero sceptic,” recently met with Vice President-elect JD Vance, further highlighting the divide.
Trump’s broader energy agenda reflects a sharp departure from international climate commitments. His administration plans to ramp up US oil and gas production, dismantle President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—a green energy subsidy initiative—and potentially withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, a move he executed during his first term but which Biden later reversed.
Despite these challenges, Starmer’s government remains committed to its renewable energy goals. Labour has pledged to decarbonize the electricity grid by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, focusing on wind and solar power. The government has also promised to halt new North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses while raising tax rates on producers, despite concerns from critics that domestic oil and gas will still be necessary for decades.
Downing Street has declined to comment directly on Trump’s remarks, reiterating its commitment to climate action and the transition to renewable energy.