Andy Burnham has warned Donald Trump over Argentina’s “coercive” behaviour in the Falkland Islands during a phone call between the two leaders on Friday.
Downing Street confirmed the pair discussed the Sea Lion project in the South Atlantic, alongside Ukraine, energy and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East during the talks.
A spokesman said Mr Burnham “raised the economic consequences of Argentina’s coercive measures” on both Britain and the United States to his American counterpart.
The Prime Minister also “reiterated the importance of respecting the Islanders’ right to develop their natural resources” during the talks, No10 confirmed.
Britain’s Rockhopper Exploration and Israel’s Navitas Petroleum are due to begin extracting from the field within two years.
Last week, Argentina said it had filed a provisional measure with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea seeking to stop the British-Israeli joint drilling venture and “prevent activities authorised unilaterally and illegally by the UK”.
Sea Lion lies around 136 miles north of the Falklands in the South Atlantic.
The oil field is believed to contain the equivalent of around 900 million barrels of black gold and sits approximately 1.6 miles beneath the seabed, itself at a depth of nearly 1,500 feet.
Last month, Javier Milei warned that drilling was due to start within months and declared that Argentina “will not allow it” during a national address.
The Argentine leader also vowed to fast-track sanctions against oil firms operating “under the British occupation” of the Falkland Islands.
Mr Trump has repeatedly weighed in on Argentina’s renewed claim on the British territory in recent months, telling GB News he will “settle” the dispute in September.
Answering a question from Bev Turner during his visit to Ireland, the US leader said he would likely have to wade into it to prevent a “potential disaster”.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister and United States President also discussed the conflict in Ukraine during their phone call.
A spokesman said Mr Burnham “underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access to Starlink so they can continue to defend themselves against Russia’s full-scale invasion”.
They added: “The Prime Minister recognised the work of President Trump to bring Putin to the negotiation table and the leaders agreed to work together, alongside international partners to bring an end to the bloodshed.”
The two leaders also discussed the Government’s decision to to approve the Jackdaw project in the North Sea this week.
“The leaders agreed on the significant benefits this will bring to the UK, boosting the economy and supporting jobs for British workers,” Downing Street said.
Following the call, Mr Trump hailed the Labour leader for defying “liberal principles” to greenlight the project.
The President told reporters on Friday: “Andy is getting it done, and I guess it’s against the liberal principle, but he knows what’s right.
“It’s going to make the UK a very wealthy country. I’ve been after them to do that for two years. The other Prime Minister, the previous man, Starmer, was a very nice man, but he never got it done. And this one is getting it [done].”
More to follow…