Argentina instructs officials to pursue UK arbitration over Falklands oil

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has instructed the foreign ministry and government lawyers to initiate arbitration against the UK over the Sea Lion oil project near the Falkland Islands. His government says oil development in waters it claims as part of its continental shelf would violate its sovereign rights. [1]

Argentina says it has given the UK two weeks to prevent the start or continuation of activities aimed at extracting oil. If Britain does not comply, it says it will ask the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for provisional measures. That would be a further step, separate from Milei’s instruction to begin arbitration. The tribunal can impose such measures pending arbitration only if it finds urgency and a preliminary basis for jurisdiction. [1] [3]

Sea Lion, about 220km north of the islands, is under development. Operator Navitas Petroleum plans to produce its first oil in March 2028. The Falkland Islands licensing register lists Navitas with a 65% interest in the Sea Lion discovery area and Rockhopper Exploration with 35%. [7] [4]