Argentina files criminal complaint against oil companies over Falklands drilling

Argentine President Javier Milei's office said the legal action is a "concrete action to protect natural resources and safeguard the sovereignty" of Argentina. Read:Argentina's Milei steps up Falklands sovereignty claims with oil sanctions.

The long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British-controlled archipelago situated about 483 kilometres (300 miles) east of the Argentine coast, has flared recently as offshore drilling projects move toward production. Buenos Aires argues that Britain has illegally occupied the islands since 1833.

As part of a broader defensive policy, Milei also signed a directive instructing Economy Minister Luis Andres Caputo to prioritise funding for an integrated naval base, a strategic military facility designed to support maritime security and territorial defence. The complaint follows separate sanction proceedings initiated by Argentina on Friday against 45 individuals and entities.

Milei previously warned that the Sea Lion oil project, an offshore drilling venture, poses an imminent threat to national resources. While London has dismissed these legal threats as domestic politics, the foreign companies said they plan to proceed with drilling under UK licenses.