The Argentine Foreign Ministry presented a note of protest against the new offshore hydrocarbon exploitation licenses granted in the Falkland Islands and questioned British activities in the disputed area
In a forceful display of sovereignty carried out on September 22, the Government of Javier Milei, under the direct instruction of Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, presented a formal note of protest to the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The diplomatic action was executed simultaneously with the presence of President Javier Milei, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, and other international leaders such as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in New York, within the framework of the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UN).
From the Palacio San Martín, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a categorical official statement expressing the strong rejection of the libertarian administration against the attempt by the usurping enclave to grant licenses for the production of offshore hydrocarbons in the Argentine Continental Shelf.
Official statement from the Foreign Ministry
The trigger for the conflict was the unilateral announcement made by the illegitimate authorities of the Falkland Islands to extend all existing oil exploitation licenses in the region for a period of 5 years, also granting the possibility of adding 2 additional years subject to the performance of the licensees.
This British maneuver, which had the “full backing” of London, sought to preemptively respond to the third intervention of Javier Milei before the UN General Assembly, where the president reaffirms the absolute invalidity of the island referendums, argues that the inhabitants do not have the right to self-determination, and consolidates strategic support with global figures such as Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Diving into the technical and corporate aspects of the controversy, the illegitimate colonial scheme approved the transfer of a 65% stake in the PL001 license area in favor of Navitas Petroleum Atlantic Limited (NAPL), a subsidiary of the Israeli Navitas Petroleum. This operation stemmed from an agreement signed in February between NAPL and JHI Associates aimed at accelerating exploration and integration work in a block adjacent to Sea Lion.
The latter constitutes a deep-water field located 220 kilometers north of the archipelago, which entered the development phase last December with the projection to begin commercial oil extraction in March 2028. According to the usurpers' estimates, Sea Lion would generate royalties of USD 2 billion over an operational cycle of 30 years.
Official statement from the Foreign Ministry
The Argentine Government stated that unauthorized exploration and exploitation in the South Atlantic flagrantly violates international law and systematically undermines Resolution 31/49 of the UN General Assembly, which requires Argentina and the United Kingdom to refrain from making unilateral changes in the area while the sovereignty dispute persists.
Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry invoked the validity of resolutions 2065 (XX) from the United Nations and the provisions issued by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization. In the internal regulatory framework, the Argentine Continental Shelf is protected by Laws No. 26,659 and No. 26,915, along with Decree No. 868/2026 promoted by the national Executive, declaring the absolute illegality of any concession or extension that does not have the sovereign approval of Buenos Aires.
This diplomatic offensive is the culmination of a comprehensive plan to defend national sovereignty initiated on September 3, the date on which President Javier Milei enacted measures to toughen penalties against illegal oil companies, sent a legislative project for sovereign protection, and promoted funding to build a naval base in Tierra del Fuego.
Andy Burnham
As a result of a criminal complaint filed two weeks ago, Judge Mariel Borruto, in charge of the Federal Justice of Río Grande, issued a precautionary measure ordering the oil companies Rockhopper Exploration and Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Limited to immediately halt works, drilling, and installations in Sea Lion.
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno stated categorically: “Unauthorized exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Argentine Continental Shelf violates international law and the repeated UN Resolutions”, adding that “We reiterate our strong rejection and will continue to act with all legal and diplomatic tools against companies and executives operating illegally in Argentine territory”.
Javier Milei and Pablo Quirno
For its part, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that the State “will employ all diplomatic, administrative, economic, judicial, and legal tools at its disposal to defend its sovereign rights and ensure that those who seek to illegally exploit our natural resources are held accountable under the law”, warning that offenders will face administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions.
The official document also reiterates the willingness to engage in bilateral dialogue regarding Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich, and the surrounding maritime spaces, concluding with the non-negotiable slogan reaffirmed by the Foreign Ministry and President Javier Milei: “By history and by right: the Falklands are Argentine” and “The Falkland Islands are Argentine by history and by right. There is no debate”.
