Argentina’s Milei threatens legal action over Falklands oil project

Argentinian President Javier Milei has issued a two-week ultimatum to the United Kingdom, demanding it cease operations on the Sea Lion oil project near the disputed Falkland Islands. Milei threatened to seek an order from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to halt the project, which he described as an "illegal plundering of our resources." The companies involved, Navitas and Rockhopper, maintain they have valid UK exploration licenses. Argentina argues the project violates a UN resolution calling for both sides to avoid unilateral actions in the islands. The UK rejects Argentina's sovereignty claim, citing the islanders' right to self-determination and their overwhelming vote in a 2013 referendum to remain a British territory.

Argentina's President Javier Milei has issued a two-week ultimatum to the United Kingdom, demanding the cessation of oil exploration activities at the Sea Lion oilfield off the Falkland Islands. If the project is not halted, Milei has instructed Argentina's Foreign Ministry and legal teams to initiate international arbitration against the UK. Argentina views this exploration as an "illegal plundering of our resources" and intends to bring the matter before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The Sea Lion project is a joint venture involving Israeli and British companies, who maintain they possess valid licenses issued by Britain. This action escalates existing tensions over the sovereignty of the archipelago, which Argentina refers to as Las Malvinas.