Argentina intensifies campaign against Falklands oil companies

Government says new legal complaints to be filed against firms exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, without naming them.Argentina will file new legal complaints against companies exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, intensifying its campaign against businesses operating in the British overseas territory.Government spokesperson Adrian Ravier said in a press conference on Tuesday that new complaints would be filed against firms operating in the Falklands, though he did not name them.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel lacking respect for dead buried in Gaza rubble: UNlist 2 of 3UK, US, Netherlands warn of Iran-linked spywarelist 3 of 3US Senate crypto bill collapses in blow to industryend of listThe move is part of a broader push by President Javier Milei’s government, which is also preparing legislation this week to toughen sanctions against companies operating in the Falklands.The Falklands are located about 600km (373 miles) east of Argentina’s southernmost tip and are administered by Britain. Earlier this month, Milei resurrected Argentina’s long-standing claim to the nearby UK-held Falkland Islands, which Buenos Aires refers to as Las Malvinas.The Argentine president has framed the dispute as a matter of national identity and has since argued that the “winds of change” favour Argentina’s position, touching a sensitive topic in UK-Argentina relations.US President Donald Trump has suggested he is reconsidering US support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, telling British media this week that he will “settle” the dispute between Argentina and the UK, which has been at a stalemate, despite Buenos Aires’ claims, since British victory in the 1982 war.Analysts say that raises the prospect of wider tensions with Britain if Buenos Aires targets other parts of the islands’ economy.Argentine newspaper Clarin reported that a federal prosecutor had filed a request to open an investigation into executives and shareholders of Israel’s Navitas Petroleum and Britain’s Rockhopper Exploration. Milei, a close ally of Israel, pledged last year to move Argentina’s diplomatic mission from near Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.