President Donald Trump highlighted one promising signal from his recent phone call with new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. “He did say one very good thing. He said he’s going to open up North Sea oil. If he does that, you’re going to be a wealthy country,” Trump said in the Oval Office. The president contrasted this approach with former Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s reluctance, recalling how he had repeatedly urged Starmer to “Open up the North Sea!”

Trump argued that the United Kingdom sits on vast domestic energy reserves yet continues importing oil from Norway, which draws from the same North Sea basin. Fully developing those resources, he maintained, would transform Britain’s economic prospects. Burnham has since confirmed he intends to take a “pragmatic” approach to North Sea oil and gas while navigating Labour’s broader energy framework.

Energy security and economic strength go hand in hand. Encouraging allies to unlock their own resources rather than rely on imports or intermittent alternatives reflects practical leadership. If Britain moves forward on North Sea development, it stands to gain jobs, revenue, and greater independence—outcomes that benefit both the UK and the wider Western alliance.