The China Mail - Argentina files lawsuit against oil firms operating off Falklands

Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war in 1982 over the South Atlantic islands, a British overseas territory that Argentines call Las Malvinas.

As President Javier Milei amps up Argentina's claim over the islands, Buenos Aires on Friday said it intended to investigate and sanction 45 oil companies working in the area.

And on Monday night, it announced a lawsuit against Navitas Petroleum Development & Production Ltd, Navitas Petroleum Atlantic United, Navitas Petroleum LP, IHI Associates Inc, and Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd.

These companies "allegedly hold licenses granted by the illegitimate government of the United Kingdom (in the Falklands) for the exploration and/or exploitation of hydrocarbons in the North Malvinas Basin," the presidency stated.

The Sea Lion oil field involves Britain's Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum, who are looking to establish a large-scale operation about 220 kilometers (137 miles) from the Falklands.

Buenos Aires argues that the arrangement breaches Argentine law, which prohibits the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on its continental shelf without government authorization.

A 2011 law establishes penalties of up to 20 years of disqualification from operating in Argentina and up to 15 years in prison for the offense.

The Falklands are located about 600 km east of Argentina's southernmost tip and administered by Britain. The 1982 war ended with Argentine surrender after 74 days of conflict that killed 649 Argentines and 255 British troops.

In a speech Thursday, Milei renewed claims to the Falklands after US President Donald Trump said Washington was reviewing its historically neutral position on the territory.

"There are winds of change in the world that are favorable to our claim," Milei said.

The far-right leader's address prompted London to assert its "unshakeable" claim over the islands.

"The Falklands are British because Falkland Islanders choose to be British," British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting wrote on social media on Friday.

The islanders themselves voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain British.

A.Zhang--ThChM