Drill, baby, drill!: Trump urges UK to tap North Sea oil, slams windmills

US President Donald Trump has turned his attention to Britain’s energy policy, urging the UK to tap deeper into North Sea oil and gas — and not holding back on how he thinks it should be done.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump struck a familiar tone, arguing Europe was desperate for energy while Britain was sitting on untapped reserves.

“The United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea Oil, one of the greatest fields in the World. Tragic!!!” he wrote, before adding: “Aberdeen should be booming.”

In a message to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, Trump doubled down on his long-running call to expand fossil fuel production.

“U.K. should, DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! It is absolutely crazy that they don’t,” he said, while also repeating his opposition to renewable energy: “AND, NO MORE WINDMILLS!”

The remarks come as global energy markets face renewed strain, with the Monetary Fund (IMF) warning that the UK could be among the hardest-hit advanced economies if tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to push up prices.

Trump also pointed to Norway’s energy strategy, claiming Oslo was profiting by selling North Sea oil to Britain at higher prices. “They are making a fortune,” he said, contrasting it with what he described as the UK’s failure to fully exploit its geographic advantage.

The comments add to mounting pressure on Starmer’s government, which has faced calls at home to approve new projects such as the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields to strengthen domestic energy security. So far, the government has remained cautious, citing climate commitments and a broader shift toward renewable energy.

Trump’s criticism of wind power is not new. During a state visit to the UK last year, he dismissed it as an expensive joke and urged Britain to make use of what he called the “great asset” of North Sea oil and gas.

The latest remarks also underscore growing differences between Trump and Starmer, particularly over energy strategy and the wider approach to global crises, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

- Ends

Tune In