Burnham discusses with Trump the security of Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and energy files

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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during a phone call with US President Donald Trump, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for Saudi Arabia in the face of the hostile attacks launched by the Houthis, according to a statement issued by the British government on Friday.

The British position came within discussions that dealt with a number of regional and international issues, including the war in Ukraine, the importance of Kiev’s continued access to satellite services, in addition to energy issues and developments related to the Falkland Islands.

According to the British government statement, Burnham stressed his country's continued support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting the Houthi attacks, without the statement including additional details regarding new procedures or commitments in this context.

The British confirmation comes in light of the strategic importance of Saudi security and the stability of the region, especially with regard to the threats posed by Houthi attacks on regional security.

Regarding the Ukrainian file, Burnham stressed to Trump the importance of Ukraine obtaining full access to the Starlink satellite communications system.

Agence France-Presse quoted the British Prime Minister as saying that Burnham stressed that Ukraine's continued benefit from this system is essential to enable its forces to defend the country in the face of the large-scale Russian invasion.

The British Prime Minister also praised the US President's efforts to push his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to the negotiating table, as part of efforts to find a settlement to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

These statements come amid discussions regarding Kiev's continued access to satellite communications services and military support, at a time when the Ukrainian authorities stress the importance of these services for its defense operations.

On the economic level, the two leaders discussed the British Ministry of Energy's decision to approve the Jackdaw gas project.

According to the statement, Burnham and Trump agreed on the significant economic benefits the project could bring to the United Kingdom.

The call also touched on the Falkland Islands, as the British Prime Minister referred to the economic consequences of the measures he described as coercive, which Argentina is taking towards the islands, and their repercussions on both the United Kingdom and the United States.

The statement did not provide details about new agreements related to this file.

The diversity of issues covered in the call reflects the breadth of the agenda of discussions between London and Washington, from Saudi Arabia’s security and regional developments, to the war in Ukraine, economic cooperation, and energy files.