Argentina’s government under President Javier Milei has launched international arbitration against Britain over the Sea Lion oil project, and says it will ask the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to order a halt if Britain refuses to stop it.
The move escalates a sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, that has lasted nearly two centuries.
The Sea Lion field, around 220 kilometres north of the islands, sits above an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil. Israeli-listed Navitas Petroleum and the UK’s Rockhopper Exploration are jointly developing it.
Argentina and Britain fought a war over the islands in 1982, which Britain won, but Buenos Aires never abandoned its claim. Milei also sees a possible opening in Washington, where Donald Trump has raised the possibility of reviewing the US position.
Britain rejects Argentina’s claim and says islanders have the right to self-determination, including the right to develop natural resources.
Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires.
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