Donald Trump's representative in the United Kingdom has launched a stinging critique of a major clean energy agreement championed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, asserting it "will not resolve the UK's energy needs."
Diplomatic Clash Over Energy Strategy
US Ambassador Warren Stephens has publicly urged Sir Keir Starmer's Government to prioritise exploiting North Sea oil and gas reserves over the international pact recently struck between the UK and several European nations. His intervention directly echoes former President Trump's own longstanding criticism of Britain's strategic shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources.
The 'Historic' Hamburg Declaration
The agreement in question, known as the Hamburg Declaration, was signed by Mr Miliband on Monday alongside counterparts from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero hailed the multilateral deal as "historic" in its significance for regional cooperation.
The declaration commits North Sea nations to collaboratively deliver an ambitious 100 gigawatts of joint offshore wind projects. This includes developing innovative schemes that connect energy infrastructure across more than one country, fostering greater energy interdependence and resilience.
Miliband's Vision for Energy Sovereignty
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband championed the agreement, stating it would crucially help "get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance." The deal represents a cornerstone of the government's strategy to build a secure, homegrown clean energy system.
Stephens Advocates for 'All of the Above' Approach
However, Ambassador Stephens countered this vision on Tuesday, emphasising the perceived unreliability of wind power. "The fact is that wind power is an unreliable method to meet the needs of the people of this country," he stated.
He outlined an alternative path: "The United States wants the strongest partner in the UK. That begins with taking an 'all of the above' approach to energy policy, including taking advantage of North Sea oil and gas reserves and bold action to expand nuclear energy."
US Economic Interests in the North Sea
The ambassador's remarks align with significant American commercial interests. Numerous US firms have long been involved in the North Sea oil and gas industry. Furthermore, the United States currently stands as the UK's largest supplier of liquified natural gas (LNG), underlining a deep energy trade relationship.
Echoes of Trump's Davos Critique
Stephens' criticism follows direct comments from Donald Trump himself earlier this month. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the former president lambasted the UK's North Sea policy, framing it as a missed economic opportunity.
"The United Kingdom produces just one-third of the total energy from all sources that it did in 1999 – think of that, one-third – and they're sitting on top of the North Sea, one of the greatest reserves anywhere in the world, but they don't use it," Trump argued. He linked this policy directly to energy security and cost concerns, claiming it was "one reason why their energy has reached catastrophically low levels, with equally high prices."
UK's Clean Energy Commitments
This transatlantic diplomatic friction highlights a fundamental policy divergence. The UK Government remains committed to its stated goals of not issuing new licences for oil and gas exploration and achieving a clean electricity system by 2030. The Hamburg Declaration is a key instrument in pursuing that latter objective, setting the stage for continued debate over the nation's energy future.
