New UK PM Burnham speaks with Trump on defense, Hormuz

Andy Burnham held his first phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon, just hours after being formally appointed as Britain's prime minister by King Charles at Buckingham Palace. The conversation touched on football, the Middle East, and a future presidential visit to Manchester.

World Cup, Defence, and the Strait of Hormuz

According to a readout issued by Downing Street, Burnham opened the call by congratulating Trump on a "successful World Cup," with the United States having co-hosted the tournament that concluded in New York on Sunday. England finished third — their best World Cup result in 60 years — after beating France in Saturday's third-place match.politics

Burnham then outlined his domestic vision, telling Trump he would focus on "reindustrialisation up and down the country to ensure good growth in every postcode," according to the Downing Street spokesperson. The prime minister "underlined his commitment to defence and security and said ensuring the security of the UK and its Allies was at the top of his agenda".middleeasteye+1

Trump updated Burnham on the situation in the Middle East, and the new prime minister "outlined the UK's commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to support global supply chains and drive down costs for businesses and families across the country". The Strait has been a flashpoint in recent weeks amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.bloomberg+3

North Sea Oil and the Road to Rapport

The call came after a notable shift in Trump's public tone toward Burnham. The president had previously dismissed the former Greater Manchester mayor, remarking that he'd heard Burnham was "mayor of a town". But on Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social praising Burnham's expected approach to North Sea oil: "The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!"denvergazette

In reality, Burnham's position is more nuanced. The BBC reported that while the new prime minister would signal a "change of emphasis" on North Sea energy, he intends to honour Labour's 2024 manifesto pledge not to issue new exploration licences. Instead, he is expected to approve production at fields such as Rosebank and Jackdaw that already hold licences — a move that does not technically break the manifesto commitment.bbc+1

A Fresh Start Under Pressure

Burnham becomes Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade, succeeding Keir Starmer after just two years in office. He used his first Downing Street speech to promise to "make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain" and invited Trump to visit Manchester — an offer the president said he would like to accept.apnews+2

The two leaders "looked forward to speaking again soon," according to the readout.politics