Argentina to bring criminal case against oil company over Falklands operations

Argentina’s government plans to bring a criminal case against oil and gas company Navitas Petroleum and its leadership for operating near the Falkland Islands. The announcement followed President Javier Milei’s promise in a national address to sanction companies drilling for oil there.

Milei also renewed Argentina’s claim to the islands, which are a British overseas territory. “The Falkland Islands are Argentine. Historically and legally. There can be no discussion. They are part of Argentine territory,” he said, according to Sky News.

“The Falkland Islands are our future. We have to get these islands back, because they are of national importance. There is no other way forward,” Milei added.

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The Falkland Islands are Argentine. Historically and legally. There can be no discussion. They are part of Argentine territory.

The speech reopened a long-running dispute with Britain over the islands, which have been under British administration since 1833. Argentina’s claim previously led to the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Milei said new winds were blowing in favor of Argentina’s claim and pointed to what he described as growing international support. The article also cited U.S. President Donald Trump as saying he was considering whether the United States would continue supporting Britain’s position that the islands are British territory. Milei and Trump have a close political relationship, and the Argentine president is often called “Argentina’s Donald Trump.”

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The Falkland Islands are our future. We have to get these islands back, because they are of national importance. There is no other way forward.