By Charlotte Webster-
The US ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, delivered a powerful message this week, stating Britain must carry out “more drilling and more production” in the North Sea. In his inaugural broadcast interview since assuming his post, Mr. Stephens strongly urged the UK government to immediately maximize its domestic oil and gas reserves.
Mr Stephens said Britain should make more of its own oil and gas. Pic: Sky News
The ambassador argued that this critical policy shift represents the most direct path to substantially lowering crippling energy costs and invigorating the national economy. Speaking to Wilfred Frost on Mornings with Ridge and Frost, Mr. Stephens highlighted the dramatic difference in energy prices between the two nations.
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The Thistle Alpha platform, north of Shetland, stopped production in 2020 . Pic: Reuters/Petrofac
He emphatically pointed out that “Electricity costs are four times ours in the UK, versus the US.” This enormous cost disparity severely handicaps British industry and families, making economic competition incredibly difficult. The ambassador underscored the strategic necessity of a strong UK economy, affirming its importance for the transatlantic partnership. “I want the UK economy to be as strong as it possibly can be, so the UK can be the best ally to the US that it possibly can be,” he stated.
Achieving a growing, competitive economy is absolutely essential for global stability and for supporting US interests; therefore, the current exorbitant electricity costs make sustained success very difficult for British businesses.
Consequently, Mr. Stephens strongly hoped Britain would immediately “examine the policies in the North Sea and frankly, make some changes to it that allows for more drilling and more production.” He posed a simple, compelling question: “You’re using oil and gas, but you’re importing it. Why not use your own?” The ambassador’s remarks make it clear that the US administration views greater UK North Sea Oil Drilling as a fundamental requirement for its ally’s financial and geopolitical resilience.
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Mr. Stephens’s strong intervention brings him directly into conflict with the UK’s current energy policy direction. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband maintains the UK should prioritize its binding net-zero target by 2030 to urgently limit climate change, rather than issuing controversial new oil and gas drilling licenses. While the ambassador expressed cautious diplomacy—stating that he didn’t think Miliband was “necessarily wrong”—he immediately clarified his position.
Ignoring abundant domestic fossil fuel reserves, both onshore and in the North Sea, constitutes an “incorrect policy,” he insisted. Mr. Stephens argued forcefully that securing energy independence is essential for global competition. He emphasized that future demands from data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure will necessitate “all energy for all countries to compete.” Therefore, deliberately neglecting available resources undermines national security and economic viability.
Crucially, the ambassador confirmed he has engaged directly with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on this contentious energy issue. He even noted that US President Donald Trump was present during some of these high-level discussions. The ambassador was explicit about the Prime Minister’s attention, saying Sir Keir was “absolutely” listening to the American perspective. “I think there are members of the government that are listening,”
The ambassador said Sir Keir and President Trump have a ‘great relationship’. Pic: Sky News
Mr. Stephens told Sky News, observing “a little bit of movement to make changes on the policy and I’ll hope that will continue.” The conversation naturally shifted to the successful state visit by President Trump in September. The ambassador noted that President Trump and Sir Keir enjoy a “great relationship,” reinforcing the deep, historic ties between the two nations. These enduring bonds were a major factor in the favourable tariff rates applied to the UK and the successful June trade deal.
President Trump genuinely loves the country, the ambassador shared. He believes it is certainly not coincidental that the tariff rates on the UK generally sit at one-third or at worst half of what many other countries currently face. The Prime Minister and his team performed exceptionally well, he concluded, positioning the United Kingdom to receive the first, and also the best, trade deal struck by the administration. Increased UK North Sea Oil Drilling could offer additional leverage in future trade and security negotiations.
Moving beyond the domestic energy debate, the ambassador offered stark insights into the current geopolitical landscape. Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Mr. Stephens indicated that President Trump’s patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin was rapidly “wearing thin.” Although the Alaska summit between the two leaders failed to achieve any significant breakthrough, the US leader openly admitted the Russian president might be “playing” him to sustain the fighting. Mr. Stephens has always favored adopting a tough stance on Russia, expressing genuine delight when Mr. Trump sanctioned Russia’s two biggest oil firms a few weeks earlier.
Nevertheless, the ambassador stressed the critical need for other countries to stop purchasing Russian energy to genuinely “tighten the screw” on Putin’s war machine. He acknowledged the difficulty, recognizing that many European countries still heavily depend on Russian gas. The world cannot truly cut off Russia’s ability to sell oil and gas globally, he explained, until those countries find alternative, secure energy sources.
The ambassador addressed the highly complicated future of relations with China, striking a cautiously hopeful tone. President Trump rated his recent meeting with President Xi Jinping as a “12/10,” raising expectations that the ongoing trade war between the two economic superpowers could be de-escalating. China’s enormous economy is undoubtedly too large to ignore, and Mr. Stephens stated it would be “terrific” if China could eventually be considered a partner.
However, he strongly warned that “impatient” China focuses ruthlessly only on itself and seeks the weakening of the US and the West. The US certainly wants to cooperate with China, and he knows the UK shares this desire. He stressed the necessity of always remembering that China fundamentally does not have Western interests at heart.
This need for rigorous national security and vigilance extends into regulatory areas far removed from foreign policy and trade deals. When nations fail to enforce comprehensive controls over vital sectors, the consequences can be catastrophic. For instance, the US and UK must maintain constant vigilance against illegal activities in sensitive markets. We recently reported on the serious challenges faced by law enforcement when tackling pharmaceutical crime in the article UK Authorities Deliver Major Blow in Fight Against Counterfeit Weight Loss Jabs. That case highlighted the persistent, global problem of sophisticated, black-market products entering the supply chain and underscores the critical need for robust regulatory oversight across all sectors.
Finally, commenting on core democratic principles, the ambassador contrasted American and international standards on free speech. He observed that in the US, somebody might get “cancelled for saying something, but they’re not going to get arrested.” The ambassador’s wide-ranging comments highlight the current administration’s intense focus on US strategic interests, using energy policy, like UK North Sea Oil Drilling, as a tool to bolster the strength of its crucial allies.
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