Milei gives Britain two-week ultimatum to halt Falklands oil drilling or face international court

From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026 · last updated 30 September 2026.

Argentina's President Javier Milei has threatened to take the UK to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea unless work on the Sea Lion oilfield stops within a fortnight. Milei posted the ultimatum on X, calling the drilling "the illegal plundering of our resources" and warning Buenos Aires would seek an emergency injunction to freeze development. The oilfield, 200km north of the islands, is jointly developed by Israel's Navitas Petroleum and Britain's Rockhopper Exploration, with geological surveys suggesting reserves of up to 1.7 billion barrels. Argentina's foreign minister Pablo Quirno called the legal move a "historic" step in defending sovereignty.

Milei's stance has been emboldened by Trump, who last month said he was reviewing Washington's long-standing position backing British sovereignty over the islands.

The Falklands oil driller has called on Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to back the project, arguing the companies hold valid licences issued by Britain.

Argentina dismissed the islanders' own vote to remain British, with Milei arguing self-determination did not apply because "the population was implanted by the occupying power."