Argentina has declared it will file criminal charges against Israeli‑listed Navitas Petroleum, an oil company operating in the seas off the Falkland Islands.
President Javier Milei already warned that oil firms drilling in the British overseas territory would face sanctions, prompting the government’s legal step.
Britain’s Foreign Office Minister Kirsty McNeill confirmed the UK’s unwavering commitment to the Falklands, stressing that the islands’ future lies with its residents.
The sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK dates back to the 1982 invasion, when a British task force drove Argentine forces from the islands.
In the House of Commons, McNeill said that the Falklands government’s decision to pursue hydrocarbon production was a commercial choice for the islands and related companies, and that the future would be decided by its people.
Milei echoed these positions in a national speech, insisting that the Falklands, or Las Malvinas, are Argentine both historically and legally and that the islands’ residents have no legitimate right to self‑determination.
Navitas holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion project, slated to begin production in the North Falkland Basin in 2028. The project lies about 130 miles (209 km) from the islands and contains roughly 1.7 billion barrels of oil.
Milei’s statement argued that drilling in the area would breach Argentine law prohibiting resource exploitation without national approval. He warned that the state would pursue necessary actions to counter violations of Argentina’s sovereign rights.
Navitas, last week, said Milei’s remarks were unlikely to affect the Sea Lion project timeline, noting that both companies possess valid licences from the Falkland Islands.
Rockhopper, a partial stakeholder in Sea Lion, has yet to issue a comment on the matter.
