Title: Gustavo Petro Urrego Responds to Trump‘s Comments on UK’s Energy Policy
In a groundbreaking move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego lashed out against US President-elect Donald Trump’s divisive statements regarding the UK’s energy policies. Petro took to social media to react to Trump’s controversial remarks about the UK’s pursuit of renewable energy and its exploration in the North Sea.
Trump’s Stance on the North Sea and Renewable Energy
On January 3, 2025, Donald Trump caused a stir by posting on Truth Social, stating that the UK was making a "big mistake" by pushing forward with its current energy policy. Trump, who was recently certified as the winner of the US presidential election, called for the UK to resume exploiting resources in the North Sea, particularly oil and gas.
"UK is making a big mistake! Open up the North Sea and forget about those windmills," Trump wrote in his post. This controversial opinion comes amidst ongoing discussions about the UK’s Energy Profits Levy (EPL), which affected operations for the US-based oil company Apache.
The Energy Profits Levy: A Contentious Issue
Implemented in 2022 and strengthened in November 2024 under the Keir Starmer administration, the EPL taxes energy companies at a rate of 78%. Following this tax increase, Apache announced its withdrawal from the region, citing the policy as an economic barrier for energy sector companies.
AGCC highlights that the Labour Party boosted the tax to 38% (resulting in a total tax rate of 78%) and prolonged it until 2030 in their latest budget.
Gustavo Petro’s Rebuttal to Trump’s Comments
In his X message, Colombian President Gustavo Petro fiercely condemned Trump’s stance, warning that a U-turn on agreed-upon energy initiatives to combat climate change could push the United States into a technological backwardness, reminiscent of 20th-century Germany. Petro further emphasized that such policies could accelerate violent conflicts over oil resources and exacerbate humanity’s climate crisis.
"Let’s hope Mr. Trump understands that the Colombian government is committed to its transition to renewable energy," stated Petro, reaffirming his administration’s dedication to promoting clean energy initiatives.
📸 Photos courtesy of Truth @realDonaldTrump and X @petrogustavo
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