UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
(Bloomberg) – U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to deliver a strong rebuke of the UK’s energy policy, blasting Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s push to transition away from North Sea oil and gas as “suicidal” for the nation’s energy security and economy.
Trump, fresh from a state visit to the UK, warned that excessive taxation and regulatory hurdles have all but shut down new North Sea development. “There’s tremendous oil that hasn’t been found in the North Sea,” he said. “They essentially closed it by making it so highly taxed that no developer, no oil company, can go there.”
While offering personal respect for Starmer, Trump made clear that the UK’s current approach jeopardizes reliable, affordable energy. He tied his criticism of Europe’s energy transition policies to broader concerns about economic decline and national security, reiterating his belief that oil and gas remain essential to prosperity in the West.
Trump also extended his criticism to Germany and other European nations for prioritizing green energy at the expense of fossil fuels, arguing that their policies undermine both economic growth and geopolitical stability.
For the oil and gas industry, Trump’s remarks signal continued U.S. support for upstream investment, particularly in legacy basins like the North Sea, where producers have long argued that punitive tax regimes and political headwinds stifle exploration and production.
