Argentina’s Milei revives bitter Malvinas dispute with United Kingdom
“Today our national cause faces a clear and urgent danger,” Milei said in a televised address Thursday evening. “And demands a proportional response.” Leer más
Argentina's President Javier Milei is reigniting tensions with the United Kingdom over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands, citing an imminent oil project in the disputed territory as a national cause. "Today our national cause faces a clear and urgent danger," Milei stated in a televised address. Milei plans to accelerate sanctions against firms operating without Buenos Aires' approval, potentially straining future business ties with Argentina.
He also announced the construction of a naval base in southern Tierra del Fuego to serve as a logistics hub in the South Atlantic. Milei has shifted to a more nationalistic stance on the Malvinas, a contrast to his leftist predecessors who vowed to reclaim the islands. The push is expected to ratchet up tensions with the UK as the Sea Lion oil project nears production in March 2028.
The project, primarily owned by Israel's Navitas Petroleum, could result in 35,000 barrels of oil and gas daily. The UK's involvement in the region has prompted US President Donald Trump to review Washington's historically neutral stance on the islands. Milei believes global winds of change favor Argentina's claim, stating, "Winds of change favourable to our claim are sweeping the world."
Despite the UK's persistent claim to the islands, Argentine pride in the Malvinas remains strong, evident in city buses displaying maps of the islands and blue signposts along rural roads.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
