Former United States President Donald Trump has delivered a blistering critique of the United Kingdom's approach to energy production, specifically targeting what he perceives as excessive barriers to exploiting North Sea oil and gas reserves. Speaking to international media at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the controversial political figure lambasted Sir Keir Starmer's administration for policies he claims have crippled Britain's energy independence.
"Green Energy Scam" Allegations Resurface
In remarks that echoed his long-standing scepticism toward renewable energy initiatives, Mr Trump reiterated his characterisation of environmental policies as a "green energy scam." He asserted that the current UK government has created conditions that make it "impossible" for petroleum companies to operate effectively in the North Sea basin, one of the world's most significant hydrocarbon regions.
Dramatic Production Decline Cited
The former president presented startling figures to support his argument, claiming that Britain now generates merely one-third of the total energy from all sources that it managed to produce back 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," Mr Trump emphasised during his address. "But they don't use it, and that's one reason why their energy has reached catastrophically low levels, with equally high prices."
He directly challenged the common assertion that North Sea reserves are becoming depleted, countering: "It's not depleted. It's got 500 years. They haven't even found the oil, the North Sea is incredible." According to his analysis, regulatory obstacles and excessive taxation are primarily to blame, with the government allegedly taking "92% of the revenues" and creating an environment where oil companies conclude "We can't do it."
Broader Critique of European Policies
Mr Trump's criticism extended beyond energy matters to encompass immigration patterns across Europe, deepening existing transatlantic divisions that have emerged during his political career. In a wide-ranging speech that occasionally meandered between topics, he suggested that mass migration had fundamentally altered the continent's character.
"Certain places in Europe are not even recognisable, frankly, anymore. They're not recognisable," he told the audience gathered in the Swiss Alps. "And we can argue about it, but there's no argument: friends come back from different places – I don't want to insult anybody – and say 'I don't recognise it', and that's not in a positive way, that's in a very negative way."
Warning About Future Direction
The former president issued a stark warning about Europe's trajectory, stating: "I love Europe and I want to see Europe go good, but it's not heading in the right direction." He criticised what he described as a prevailing consensus among Western policymakers favouring "ever-increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports" as the formula for economic growth.
This approach, according to Mr Trump, has involved outsourcing "so-called dirty jobs and heavy industries" while replacing "affordable energy" with what he termed "the green new scam." He further argued that some nations have attempted to sustain themselves economically by "importing new and entirely different populations from far away lands" – a practice he clearly views as detrimental.
Throughout his Davos appearance, the former US leader contrasted Europe's perceived decline with what he portrayed as the achievements of his own administration during his return to the White House, though he offered limited specifics about these accomplishments. His comments are likely to reignite debates about energy security, environmental policy, and international relations as Britain continues to navigate its post-Brexit position on the global stage.
