Donald Trump has welcomed the approval of the Jackdaw gas project in the North Sea, calling it "great news for the wealth and prosperity of the United Kingdom, and the wonderful region of Aberdeen".
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president appeared to confuse fossil fuels, suggesting the scheme would tap oil rather than gas. Despite this, the go-ahead for the development is expected to increase pressure on the UK Government to also back the separate Rosebank oil and gas field.
Trump urges 'full blast' on North Sea drilling
Mr Trump urged ministers to "go full blast" and called on them to "take down the costly and ridiculous windmills". His comments come as the Jackdaw project, around 150 miles east of Aberdeen, is set to start supplying gas to homes and businesses from the end of the month.
The approval is expected to increase domestic gas production by around 6% at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs, and provide an estimated £2.9 billion economic boost.
Ministers defend domestic production
Although environmental campaigners have strongly criticised the move, ministers argue that while UK households and businesses are still using gas, it makes more economic and environmental sense to increase domestic production rather than rely on imports shipped around the world.
Responding to the news, Mr Trump said: "Great news for the wealth and prosperity of the United Kingdom, and the wonderful region of Aberdeen. The UK has started drilling in the North Sea, one of the greatest and most prosperous areas of OIL in the World. They should go FULL BLAST!!! This will make the UK very wealthy again. TAKE DOWN THE COSTLY AND RIDICULOUS WINDMILLS!"
Ambassador backs further development
His ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, said: "Energy security means taking charge of your own energy. I welcome the UK moving forward with Jackdaw and hope approval for Rosebank follows. Developing Britain's own North Sea resources supports UK businesses and its people. A stronger, more secure UK energy sector benefits us all."
The US president has consistently pressed for the UK to exploit its natural resources in the North Sea, previously claiming that Britain was "a bankrupt country" and that the nation was "sitting on top of gold".
His initial dealings with Prime Minister have been upbeat, buoyed in part by the Prime Minister saying he would "take a pragmatic approach" to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, which Mr Trump has championed. The president, a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, has long railed against "windmills" and lost a legal battle with the Scottish Government to stop a wind turbine development visible from his Aberdeenshire golf course.
