President Donald Trump has been driven by a mantra of “drill, drill, drill” calling for increased extraction of oil and gas within the United States. Beyond this, however, Trump’s administration appears to be focused on a broader goal: to keep the world reliant on fossil fuels for as long as possible. In deals currently being negotiated with countries like Japan and Ukraine, Trump is leveraging U.S. position in tariffs and military aid to boost the global circulation of oil and gas.

In Africa, Trump’s administration has even been promoting a comeback for coal, which is considered the most polluting of all fossil fuels, as a vital source of energy for the continent. According to Chris Wright, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, the Western refusal to develop coal has been “paternalistic” and detrimental to Africa’s energy needs. Wright has also argued at the CeraWeek oil industry conference in Houston that the world requires more fossil fuels, not fewer, and criticized Joe Biden for his climate change policies.

Wright’s vision of a long-term reliance on fossil fuels could lead to more U.S. support for drilling in Africa, which could be welcomed by business interests seeking to bring electricity to the estimated 600 million people who lack it. However, climate experts and nonprofit organizations argue that this strategy would only perpetuate the climate crisis, which poses severe threats to many African countries that have contributed very little to planet-heating pollution.

Opening credible renewable energy projects, rather than propping up the fossil fuel industry, is seen by many as the only sustainable way to meet Africa’s growing energy needs and address the climate crisis, as increasing reports highlight the disproportionate effects of climate change on the African continent.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/trump-fossil-fuels-oil-and-gas