Argentina's President Javier Milei Escalates Falklands Dispute with New Sanctions Targeting Oil Companies

ARGENTINA has moved to enforce a major crackdown on oil firms operating around the Falkland Islands.

announced legal proceedings against 45 people and companies in a post on X this morning.

It comes a day after the right wing leader vowed to “recover” the British overseas territory in an outlandish national address .

The Argentinian government said proceedings could even be brought against shareholders and companies providing services to firms involved in the oil projects.

The announcement did not identify those facing proceedings.

During a fiery televised speech on Friday, Milei while branding oil companies working off the islands “a clear and present danger”.

Milei singled out the Sea Lion oilfield, owned by an Israeli and a British firm where production is expected to begin in 2028.

He raged: “If we do not act swiftly in a few months, they will have the material capacity to access the oil that lies underneath our sea. Something that has never happened before.”

Test drilling suggests Sea Lion could contain more than double the annual output of the entire North Sea.

Early reports suggested about 791million barrels of oil could be recovered, but that was upped to 917million barrels last year.

Control of the oil field currently lies between an Israeli and a British firm – with none of the profits set to reach Argentina.

Milei’s astonishing claims came after US President Donald Trump suggested he would not back the UK if Argentina invaded the archipelago , citing the lack of support in the war on Iran .

The US has formally recognised the UK’s de facto administration of the islands but has not taken a formal position on sovereignty.

British ministers responded to the Argentinian president’s speech with fury.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband doubled down on Britain’s “unwavering position”.

In a post on X he wrote: “The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders.

“Their right of self-determination is paramount, grounded in international law and we will resolutely uphold it.”

But Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick called Britain’s ability to defend itself into question.

In post on X he fumed: “The sacrifice of our Falklands veterans is set to be betrayed.

“Why? The Argentinians have taken one look at Burnham and Streeting and worked out that they’re a pair of simps, too weak to defend our islands.

“What are they going to do? Flutter their eyelashes at Milei?”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has yet to formally comment on the escalating rhetoric by Argentina’s president.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the UK continues “to have a diplomatic relationship with Argentina, and from our perspective we want to continue to strengthen that”.

The Falklands, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, are the subject of a major dispute between Britain and Argentina.

The two countries waged a brief but bitter war over the territory in 1982, in which 907 people were killed – 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British troops, and three civilians.

In 2013, residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a British Overseas Territory – of 1,517 votes cast 1,513 were in favour and only three against.

In his speech, Milei said: “The Falklands are our future – we need to recover these islands which are nationally relevant. There is no other path forward.”