Argentina announces criminal case over Falklands oil project
Buenos Aires has targeted Navitas Petroleum, its subsidiaries and executives after President Javier Milei renewed Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands.
Argentina says it will bring criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum, several subsidiaries and company executives over oil operations in waters off the Falkland Islands, escalating a long-running dispute with the United Kingdom.
The announcement followed President Javier Milei’s renewed claim that the islands, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, are Argentine territory. Milei has also threatened sanctions against oil companies drilling in the area.
The UK, which administers the Falkland Islands, reaffirmed its support for the islanders’ right to determine the territory’s future. Foreign Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said hydrocarbon production was a commercial decision for the Falkland Islands government and the companies involved.
The sovereignty dispute has continued since Argentina’s 1982 invasion and the subsequent British military operation. Milei has rejected a 2013 referendum in which 99.8% of island voters supported remaining a British overseas territory.
Navitas, listed in Tel Aviv, holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion offshore project in the North Falkland Basin. The project is scheduled to begin production in 2028, and the field is estimated to contain 1.7 billion barrels of oil.
Argentina has alleged that drilling would breach its laws against resource exploitation without approval from Argentine authorities. The exact charges, legal process and any sanctions have not been detailed. Navitas had not responded to the latest announcement, while Rockhopper, which holds a partial stake, had also not commented. Both companies have previously said the project has valid licences from the Falkland Islands, according to BBC World.
