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Argentina to Impose Sanctions on Energy Operators in Contested British Falklands

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Argentina's presidential office will impose sanctions on 15 persons or entities in addition to sanctions on a prior 45 over what it said was illegitimate hydrocarbon extraction development, it said in a statement on Tuesday, as the country reasserts its claim to the British Falkand Islands.

The statement said that the UK territories of the Falkands, South Georgia and South Sandwich belonged to Argentina and that no one could exploit their resources without authorization from the country.

The UK defeated Argentine troops who sought to take the Falklands Islands in 1982 but their status has remained contentious and President Javier Milei has recently begun publicly reasserting Argentina's claim to them.

Reuters reported that on Tuesday, the government made a criminal complaint against Israel's Navitas Petroleum and its leadership over their operations in the Falkands. It said the initial sanctions on 45 people were announced last week.

Navitas did not reply to a request for comment.has messaged Navitas through its website seeking comment.

The Argentine government says that the companies are violating its laws by obtaining exploration and exploitation licenses issued by the UK in the North Falkand Basin, the Reuters article said, noting it was not clear whether the courts would investigate it.

The article said that Milei had specifically referred last week to the Sea Lion offshore oil project, operated by Navitas, which has a 65% stake. London-listed Rockhopper owned the rest. It is expected to start pumping oil in 2028.

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