Argentine judge orders halt to Falklands oil project as tensions with Britain rise

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine federal judge ordered British and Israeli companies to cease developing an oilfield off the Falkland Islands, intensifying tensions between Argentina and Britain that President Javier Milei has recently reignited. The injunction targets the Sea Lion oil project, situated 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of the British-controlled archipelago in the South Atlantic.

The injunction halts drilling, offshore installations, and port construction until Argentine authorities can conduct an environmental review. However, it is unlikely to significantly impede the project's progress, as the companies involved have vowed to proceed despite the order. Sea Lion's commercial oil production is expected to begin in 2028, transforming the territory's economy that has traditionally relied on fishing.

For Argentina, the project allows foreign companies to tap into oil reserves it considers its own, as the islands, approximately 480 kilometers (300 miles) off its coast, are enshrined in the constitution and central to national identity. With the U.S. President Donald Trump expressing uncertainty about Britain's willingness to reclaim the Falklands, Argentine President Javier Milei has seized on the situation to announce measures against oilfield developers, including broad sanctions and criminal complaints against Israel's Navitas Petroleum and Britain's Rockhopper Exploration.