The government announced that new legal complaints will be filed against firms exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, without naming the companies.
Published On 15 Sep 2026
Argentina will file new legal complaints against companies exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, intensifying its campaign against businesses operating in the British overseas territory.
Government spokesperson Adrian Ravier told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that further complaints would be lodged against entities operating in the Falkland Islands, without specifying which firms.
The move is part of a broader push by President Javier Milei’s government, which is also preparing legislation this week to toughen sanctions against companies operating in the Falklands.
The Falkland Islands are located about 600km (373 miles) east of Argentina’s southernmost tip and are administered by Britain.
Earlier this month, President Milei revived Argentina’s long‑standing claim to the UK‑held Falkland Islands, which Buenos Aires refers to as Las Malvinas.
The Argentine president has framed the dispute as a matter of national identity and argues that shifting global dynamics now favour Argentina’s position, touching a sensitive topic in UK‑Argentina relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he may be reconsidering U.S. support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, telling British media he intends to “settle” the Argentina‑UK impasse, which has remained deadlocked since the 1982 war, despite Argentina’s claims.
Analysts say this raises the prospect of wider tensions with Britain if Buenos Aires targets other parts of the islands’ economy.
Argentine newspaper Clarín reported that a federal prosecutor had filed a request to open an investigation into the executives and shareholders of Israel’s Navitas Petroleum and Britain’s Rockhopper Exploration. President Milei, a close ally of Israel, pledged last year to move Argentina’s diplomatic mission from near Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
A presidential statement last week said the government had filed a criminal complaint in Argentine courts against Navitas Petroleum for exploring the Sea Lion oil field in the North Falkland basin.
The government also launched legal action against Canadian company Eco Atlantic, which holds a licence to explore next to the Sea Lion field, asserting that its licences were granted “by the illegitimate government of the United Kingdom”.
A 2011 law establishes penalties of up to 20 years’ disqualification from operating in Argentina and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for conducting exploration on Argentina’s continental shelf without government authorisation.
Navitas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rockhopper declined to comment. Both companies have previously said the oilfield project holds valid licences from the Falkland Islands government and indicated that they do not expect Milei’s actions to derail development.
Federal prosecutor Carlos Stornelli’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Britain earlier on Tuesday sought to reassure companies doing business in the Falkland Islands, saying in guidance published on its government website that it supported all legitimate economic activity in the islands and backed the Falkland Islanders’ right to regulate their economy and develop their natural resources, including hydrocarbons.
“The UK government’s position is that Argentina has no right to exercise jurisdiction over the Falkland Islands or to apply its domestic law within the Islands, nor towards any companies or individuals participating in business in or connected with the Islands,” Britain said in its guidance.
It added that it saw no legal basis for courts outside Argentina to enforce measures taken against such businesses.
The 1982 war ended with an Argentine surrender after 74 days of conflict that killed 649 Argentine and 255 British troops.