Supreme Court restores limits on foreign land ownership in ruling

Argentina's Supreme Court provisionally reinstated a cap on foreign land ownership on Friday, temporarily suspending President Javier Milei's repeal of the 'Ley de Tierras' last year. The ruling comes a week after the court dismissed a separate legal challenge to Milei's emergency decree, which lowered the 15-percent cap on foreign ownership of rural land.

According to a 2025 study, around five percent of Argentine land, equivalent to the size of England, is owned by foreigners, with some areas exceeding the 15-percent limit. Environmental associations and indigenous groups argued that lifting the restrictions would negatively impact natural resources, national sovereignty, and the rights of indigenous peoples.

The Supreme Court's decision addressed these environmental concerns, which differed from those raised in the veterans' lawsuit. The court suspended Article 154 of the decree, pending further consideration of a challenge brought by Árbol de Pie, a civil association, and other claimants. The ruling does not resolve the underlying legal dispute or confirm the validity of the claimants' arguments. The court emphasized the importance of timely judicial responses and environmental protection.