UK will 'resolutely uphold' Falklands self-determination, Miliband says
The foreign secretary's comments come as Argentinian president Javier Milei says the "winds of change" favoured his country's claim on the British Overseas Territory.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband affirmed the UK's unwavering commitment to the self-determination of the Falkland Islands in response to Argentine President Javier Milei's threat to reclaim the territory. Milei declared his nation's longstanding claim to the islands as both historically and legally Argentine and threatened sanctions on firms intending to exploit the Sea Lion oilfield, a joint venture between Britain's Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum.
Despite the estimated 1.7 billion barrels of highly marketable crude oil contained within the Sea Lion field, the project's timeline remained unaffected by Milei's ultimatum. Downing Street reaffirmed its stance that the Falkland Islands would remain a British Overseas Territory indefinitely, as the islanders overwhelmingly chose to retain this status in a 2013 referendum.
Both the UK and Israeli partners maintaining operations in the oilfield emphasized they held valid licenses from the Falkland Islands' government and full backing from the UK government. British and US officials dismissed arguments that the Falklands conflict posed a threat to their respective interests, with Miliband highlighting that the islands' self-determination included the right to exploit their natural resources.
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