Argentina Milei Renews Falklands Sovereignty Push With Oil Drilling Claims

In a nationally televised address Thursday, Argentine President Javier Milei threatened sanctions against companies drilling for oil near the Falkland Islands, calling the Sea Lion project a "concrete and urgent danger" and pledging legislation to penalize suppliers, shareholders and directors tied to it 1234. Milei announced new funding for a naval base in Tierra del Fuego to expand Argentina's military presence near the islands 124. Rockhopper Exploration and Navitas Petroleum, the UK and Israeli firms developing Sea Lion, said in a joint statement they hold valid licenses from the islands' government and do not expect the threat to have a "material effect" on their plans to begin drilling within months and pump oil by 2028 123. UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting called Britain's commitment to the Falklands "absolute and unshakeable" and said Milei's statement "tells us more about domestic politics in Argentina than it does about the Falkland Islands," while Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband separately affirmed the islands are "British and will remain so" 1234. Milei's speech followed President Trump's remarks this week that Washington's position on the territory's sovereignty was "under review" and his refusal, in an interview aired Thursday, to say whether the US would back Britain in another Falklands conflict, citing UK support gaps during the Iran bombing campaign 24.