Argentina to investigate and sanction oil companies operating near Falkland Islands

Argentina has announced that it will investigate and sanction oil companies working near the Falkland Islands without authorisation, after President Javier Milei said the “winds of change” favour his country’s claim to the archipelago.

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

Argentina’s presidency said in a statement on Friday that it had ordered the opening of proceedings to “investigate and penalise” 45 entities “linked to the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons” around the Falklands.

The statement did not name the entities involved. According to Argentine media, they include British, US, Canadian, Israeli, Danish and Dutch companies.

On Saturday afternoon, oilfield services companies Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes issued statements saying they do not and will not work on hydrocarbon projects near the islands.

Later, Milei shared a news item on social media reporting the statements, along with an acronym that translates to “everything is going according to plan”.

The Falklands are located about 600km (372 miles) east of Argentina’s southernmost tip and administered by Britain. The Falklands war in 1982 ended with the surrender of the Argentine government after 74 days of conflict that killed 649 Argentines and 255 British troops.