Argentina Reasserts Falklands Claim Amid Trump’s Shift on UK Alliance, Threatens New Sanctions on Oil Operators

Published on 04/09/2026 – 8:38 GMT+2

Argentine President Javier Milei declared on Thursday that a shifting geopolitical landscape, which he termed “winds of change,” is beginning to favor Argentina’s long-standing claim over the Falkland Islands (known in Argentina as Las Malvinas).

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During a televised address, the right-wing leader highlighted recent comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington might reconsider its historically neutral stance on the sovereignty dispute, which has long strained relations between Buenos Aires and London.

Quoting Trump directly, Milei stated, “President Trump recently stated that the United States is reevaluating its historical position regarding Las Malvinas.” He added, “This threat is not to be taken lightly,” emphasizing that “winds of change are blowing across the world in favor of our cause.”

Trump’s comments earlier this week cast doubt on US support for the UK in any potential conflict over the territory, pointing to Britain’s lack of military support during the recent Iran war, which began in late February following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Speaking to GB News, Trump was blunt about London’s alignment with Washington, stating, “Your country is not doing well. Don’t forget, you get a big percentage of your oil from the Strait of Hormuz, and you weren’t there to help me. Your country was not there to help me.”

New Sanctions

In his address, Milei announced the impending imposition of new sanctions targeting international oil companies operating in the waters around the islands, which he characterized as being under “British occupation.”

“For 50 years, the United Nations has called on Argentina and the United Kingdom to refrain from taking unilateral actions regarding the territory, including the exploitation of its natural resources, until the dispute is resolved. However, the United Kingdom has systematically failed to comply with this call,” Milei asserted.

The Argentine president specifically pointed to the British-Israeli Sea Lion oil project, an oilfield located approximately 220 kilometers north of the Falkland Islands, which is expected to begin production in the coming months.

Milei warned, “It means that if we do not act firmly and swiftly today, in a few months they will have the material capacity to appropriate the oil reserves lying beneath our sea, something that has never happened before.” He concluded, “If we allow this to happen, we will be creating an incentive for the British government to deepen its occupation of the islands and the exploitation of our resources.”

The Falkland Islands

Sovereignty over the islands remains one of the most divisive and highly politicized issues in South American and global geopolitics, particularly since the 10-week war of 1982, which began after Argentine forces invaded the territory.

The conflict saw then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatch a naval task force to reclaim the territory, ultimately ending with Argentina’s surrender in June of that year.

In 2013, a referendum was held among Falkland Islanders, resulting in an overwhelming vote to remain a British territory. Out of more than 1,500 votes cast, over 99% were in favor of British sovereignty, with only three votes against.

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