Europe
Burnham and Trump discuss Starlink for Ukraine, the Falklands Sea Lion project and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Downing Street says the UK Prime Minister raised full Starlink access for Ukraine, Argentina's coercive measures over the Falklands and support for Saudi Arabia in a call with the US President on 23 October.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke by telephone with US President Donald Trump on 23 October, and the call covered Ukraine, energy, the Falkland Islands and the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to the readout published by 10 Downing Street on GOV.UK.
Starlink for Ukraine
The readout says the Prime Minister “underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access to Starlink so they can continue to defend themselves against Russia’s full-scale invasion”. Access to the satellite network has been a live issue in recent weeks: the question of speed limits on Starlink in Ukraine was raised publicly with Elon Musk, as covered in Sikorski to Musk over Starlink limits in Ukraine: “Playing politics with your products again?”.
Downing Street also said Burnham recognised Trump’s work to bring Putin to the negotiating table, and that the two leaders agreed to work together with international partners to end the bloodshed. The readout gives no timetable and no details of any proposal.
Falklands and the Sea Lion project
On the Falkland Islands, the two leaders discussed the Sea Lion project. According to the British account, Burnham raised the economic consequences of Argentina’s “coercive measures” for both the United Kingdom and the United States, and repeated the importance of respecting the Islanders’ right to develop their natural resources. The readout does not say what Trump replied or which measures are meant.
The dispute is already before an international tribunal: Argentina asked the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to order the UK to halt the oil project, as Argentina asks maritime tribunal to order UK to halt Falklands Sea Lion oil project explains.
Energy and the Middle East
On energy, the leaders welcomed what the readout calls continued collaboration between UK and US companies, especially on nuclear power. They also discussed the decision by the UK Energy Secretary to approve the Jackdaw gas field, which the readout says will bring significant benefits to the UK economy and support jobs. The UK government separately announced the approval of Jackdaw on 23 October, together with a new Energy Wealth Fund announced by the Chancellor.
Turning to the Middle East, Burnham reaffirmed the UK’s support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “in the face of hostile Houthi attacks”. Saudi Arabia has reported intercepting Houthi ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, as covered in Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait.
The statement is a British readout only; no matching US account of the call had been seen when this article was written. The two leaders, it concludes, “look forward to seeing each other soon”.