In a speech to Republican lawmakers, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to reverse the moratorium on oil drilling in protected areas of Alaska, specifically the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Trump urged his party colleagues to support his energy policy, touting Alaska as a potential treasure trove of oil, even larger than Saudi Arabia.
Trump criticized the previous administration under President Joe Biden, calling the decision to end oil and gas exploration in the ANWR a “first step” in the wrong direction. Trump promised to take executive action on the matter, as the necessary permits had not been secured through the congressional process.
“If this is done, we will be able to supply all of Asia” Trump said, highlighting the strategic location of the ANWR.
Before returning to the White House, Trump had already condemned his predecessor’s decision to ban oil and gas exploration off the northern coast of Alaska, calling it “ridiculous.” Trump had campaigned on a promise to make the US a leading player on the global energy market, arguing that the country has a surplus of energy resources, with more than the rest of the world combined. He characterized Biden’s climate agenda as a “new green scam.”
Biden had previously justified the drilling ban in Alaska by citing environmental concerns, noting that the Arctic is warming at a rate twice as fast as the rest of the world due to climate change. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect this region.