President Donald Trump praised British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Friday after the two leaders spoke by phone, in a call that covered Ukraine's access to Starlink, the newly approved Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea and the Falkland Islands.
Burnham raised the Starlink issue directly with the President. In the official account of the call, the Prime Minister "underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access to Starlink so they can continue to defend themselves against Russia's full-scale invasion." He also "recognised the work of President Trump to bring Putin to the negotiation table," and the two leaders agreed to work together, alongside international partners, to bring an end to the bloodshed.
The call came days after Ukraine's use of the Starlink satellite system was hit by speed limits that curtailed its ability to intercept Russian missile and drone attacks — restrictions Kyiv's forces felt immediately, because Starlink helps guide the interceptors that shoot down incoming drones. Elon Musk, whose company provides the system, has suggested the order to impose the caps came from the White House.
Turning to energy, the leaders welcomed the continued collaboration between UK and US companies, especially on nuclear power — and then took up the decision that has dominated British energy politics this week: the Energy Secretary's approval of the Jackdaw field.
Jackdaw sits about 150 miles east of Aberdeen and is operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and the Norwegian state energy firm Equinor. Its approval ends years of legal challenges. Ministers say the first gas could be produced by the end of this month, that the field could raise domestic gas production by around 6 percent at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs and deliver an estimated £2.9 billion boost to the economy. The government announced a new energy wealth fund alongside the decision.
On the call, the two leaders discussed the approval and agreed on the significant benefits it will bring to the UK, boosting the economy and supporting jobs for British workers.
Trump then said the same thing publicly, at length, as he left the White House for his rally in Florida. "We discussed the fact that they're opening up the North Sea oil, and that's going to make the UK a very rich country," he told reporters. "They're opening up the North Sea oil. I've been after them to do that for two years. The other prime minister, the previous man, Starmer — he's a very nice man, but he never got it done, and this one is getting it. Andy is getting it done, and I guess it's against the liberal principle, but he knows what's right. It's going to make UK a very wealthy country."
Jackdaw is a gas field rather than an oil field, but the President's point was the wider one he has pressed on Britain for two years: open up the North Sea. He had already welcomed the approval on Wednesday, calling it "great news for the wealth and prosperity" of the UK.
The leaders also discussed the Falkland Islands and the Sea Lion project there. Burnham raised the economic consequences of Argentina's coercive measures for the UK and US, and reiterated the importance of respecting the Islanders' right to develop their natural resources.
On the Middle East, Burnham reaffirmed the UK's support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of hostile Houthi attacks.
The call closed with the two leaders saying they look forward to seeing each other soon — and with Trump having secured, in one conversation, the two things he has pushed hardest on London: recognition of his work to bring Putin to the negotiating table, and a British government finally approving the North Sea production he has demanded for two years.
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