The chancellor Pablo Quirno explained this Monday the scope of the legal process initiated by the Government of Javier Milei against the United Kingdom to try to stop the unilateral exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Falkland Islands and assured that this is an unprecedented action in the history of the Argentine claim.
In an interview with Eduardo Feinmann on A24, the official detailed that Argentina formally summoned the United Kingdom as a preliminary step to initiating an arbitration procedure under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “This is the first time in history that the dispute over the unilateral actions carried out by the United Kingdom regarding illegal exploitation is submitted to an international tribunal,” he explained.
The measure specifically targets hydrocarbon activities developed in the North Falkland Basin, particularly the Sea Lion project. The Government denounces its execution over resources belonging to the Argentine Continental Shelf. “These are resources that are being exploited and are part of our Continental Shelf. They are non-renewable resources that belong to us; there cannot be unilateral decisions,” the chancellor stated.
Quirno also explained that the procedure initially includes a 15-day period for the United Kingdom to have the opportunity to halt the questioned activities. If London does not respond favorably, Argentina will go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to request provisional measures while the arbitration tribunal is established. As the minister explained, any eventual resolution will be binding for the parties. “The arbitration will have a decision, and the results will be mandatory,” he emphasized.
