Posted on 09/08/2026 3:37:22 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The Argentine government has said that it will file criminal charges against oil company Navitas Petroleum for operating in seas off the Falkland Islands.
The move came just days after Argentine President Javier Milei said he would sanction oil companies drilling in the British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean.
Sovereignty of the archipelago remains disputed between the UK and Argentina more than 40 years after a British military task force ejected Argentine forces which had invaded the territory in 1982.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, McNeill said that "the decision by the Falkland Islands government to pursue hydrocarbon production is a commercial decision for them to take alongside the commercial companies involved".
She added that "the future of the Falkland Islands is for Falkland Islanders to determine".
The simmering dispute between Britain and Argentina over the Falklands heated up last week, when Milei said in a speech to the nation
Navitas...holds a 65% stake in Sea Lion, an offshore oil project set to start production in the North Falkland Basin in 2028.
The Sea Lion oilfield, around 130 miles (209 km) from the Falkland Islands, contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil.
In Monday's statement, Milei alleged that drilling in the area would violate Argentine law banning resource exploitation without approval from the Argentine authorities.
...
Navitas has not yet responded to this latest statement but said last week that Milei's remarks were "not expected to have a material effect on the development activities of the Sea Lion Project, including the timetable for completion of the Project's development".
Rockhopper, which owns a partial stake in the Sea Lion project, has also not yet commented on Milei's statement.
Both companies have in the past stressed that Sea Lion holds valid licences from the Falkland Islands.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
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REAL??? OR ANOTHER PISSING CONTEST???
Sounds like Brittain is acting like China.
Who cares. Argentina has no jurisdiction.
In developing their own resources on their own territory?
Seems like a pointless distraction but maybe it plays well with Argentinians.
Most likely to try and artificially pump up the level of anti-English outrage to justify a move against the Falklands.
I’m actually surprised Milei is willing to engage in this cheap foreign policy brinkmanship. He knows historically Argentina doesn’t have a leg to stand on in claiming ownership. It seems beneath him.
The Islamists are conquering Britain as we speak. Milei might as well as take the Falklands (eventually).
I doubt they will ever try to militarily take Falklands but saber rattling might play well with the people.
Maybe I have a higher opinion of Milei then he deserves. Saber rattling is beneath him! Maybe its not!
The two cases are NOTHING alike. Heck, for example, the then ROC wasn’t even aware the Spratly islands existed before 1933.
yes so they claim. Just like China does.
China is the one saying that they will take over Taiwan just like Argentina is acting like it will take the Falklands (against the will of the people who happen to live there) .
The Brits claimed the Falklands before the U.S. took California.
The idea the Argentines have a claim to that land, and a ‘right’ to rule those people against their wishes is absurd.
???
The Falklands were N-E-V-E-R part of Argentina. The entire dispute was between Spain and Britain, not Argentina and Britain.
The second point is that the islands (unlike some coral reefs in the South China Sea) are inhabited and have been inhabited for more almost 200 years. The locals want to be part of Britain, not Argentina.
On what basis does Argentina think the Falklands are theirs? They never have been before and the people don't want them. So what is the basis of their claim? "Cuz we want them?"
The inhabitants of the islands have spoken: they are British and want to remain British.
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