President Donald Trump and the United Kingdom’s newly installed prime minister, Andy Burnham, held their first telephone conversation on Monday, with both sides describing the exchange in positive terms. Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, said the call covered North Sea oil, trade, the bilateral military alliance, and the demining of the Strait of Hormuz, and that he had wished Burnham “good luck and godspeed”. Downing Street confirmed the discussion and stated that Burnham had emphasised the UK’s commitment to defence and security, and to supporting the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in order to protect global supply chains and reduce costs for businesses and households.

Viewed from Washington, the call signals a reset in tone after Trump had previously labelled Burnham “extremely liberal”. According to US officials cited in American media, the president’s endorsement was influenced by Burnham’s reported openness to new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, a policy Trump has championed. The White House readout stressed the “outstanding relationship” with the UK and Trump’s confidence that Burnham would handle the “big job ahead”, with the United States “there to help”. The two leaders agreed to meet “in the not too distant future” to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Burnham took office on Monday as the seventh British prime minister in a decade, succeeding Keir Starmer, who resigned after just over two years. In his inaugural address outside No 10 Downing Street, Burnham promised a new economic model and deep changes to a country he said was “weary” of repeated leadership changes. Analysts in London note that his government inherits a set of overlapping crises: a cost-of-living squeeze, strained public services, and a Labour Party weakened by local election losses and internal divisions. On foreign policy, Burnham has previously criticised the delay in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and has pledged to maintain pressure on Israel, while also assuring Ukraine of continued British support.

The discussion of the Strait of Hormuz reflects the immediate security challenge posed by the effective closure of the waterway since the outbreak of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which has driven up global energy prices. According to British officials, Burnham told Trump that ensuring freedom of navigation there is a top priority. The previous Starmer government initially refused a US request to use British bases for strikes on Iran before later granting authorisation, a sequence that strained bilateral ties. Burnham’s early commitment to joint demining operations and safe passage is being read in European capitals as an effort to restore a more predictable transatlantic security partnership.

The dossier now moves towards a face-to-face meeting, with no date yet set. Both sides have indicated that the agenda will include trade, energy cooperation, and the military alliance. The state of the relationship will be tested by how the new British government balances its stated commitment to defence cooperation with the US against domestic and European pressure over the conduct of the war in the Middle East and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.