Milei vows sanctions on oil firms drilling in Falkland Islands

Buenos Aires, Argentina. President Javier Milei said he would sanction oil companies drilling in the Falkland Islands, intensifying Argentina’s claim to sovereignty over the British overseas territory.

His comments in a televised national address on Thursday followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that he was reviewing the United States’ neutral position on the South Atlantic archipelago.

Oil exploration and sovereignty claim

Milei said the prospect of oil companies conducting exploration in the islands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas, posed an urgent threat to Argentine interests.

The remarks came 44 years after Argentina was defeated by Britain in a war over sovereignty of the islands.

Milei, an ally of Trump, referred to a possible shift in the U.S. position and said that “winds of change” favoured Argentina’s claim. He said he was sending Congress a bill intended to strengthen Argentina’s response to violations of its sovereignty.

Britain reaffirms position

Britain, which has controlled the territory since 1833, said on Friday that its position on the islands was “unwavering”.

“The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders,” British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said on X.

“Their right of self-determination is paramount, grounded in international law and we will resolutely uphold it.”

British Defence Minister Wes Streeting said Milei’s comments reflected “domestic politics in Argentina”.

Changing tone

Milei had previously supported diplomacy as the best means of pursuing Argentina’s claim to the Falklands. However, with further oil drilling expected in the coming months and Trump repeatedly mentioning the islands, he has adopted a tougher tone.

Trump told GB News on Thursday that he was unsure whether Britain would be prepared to fight for the islands again.