UK PM Burnham raises Malvinas oil project in call with Trump

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with US President Donald Trump on Friday about Argentina's efforts to obstruct a UK-Israeli oil venture near the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands. Argentina's President Javier Milei recently submitted a request to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to halt the joint hydrocarbon exploration project off the Malvinas coast, escalating tensions over the disputed territory's sovereignty.

The islands, known as Las Islas Malvinas to Argentines and the Falkland Islands to the UK, have been under UK administration since 1833. However, Argentina contends that self-determination does not apply to the population it views as British settlers. Milei has reinforced his nation's claim since Trump alluded to the possibility of reevaluating Washington's position on the matter.

The Sea Lion oil project, jointly led by Britain's Rockhopper and Israel's Navitas, has come under scrutiny for allegedly breaching a UN resolution advocating for both parties to refrain from unilateral actions until their dispute is resolved. Milei's administration has also endorsed a bill that would prohibit the exploitation of natural resources in the area without Buenos Aires' authorization, imposing stricter penalties under a previous law.

The UK maintains that the islands will remain British and that they have the right to manage their natural resources as they see fit.

During their conversation, Burnham and Trump discussed the economic ramifications of Argentina's coercive measures for the UK and US, emphasizing the importance of respecting the islanders' right to develop their natural resources. However, the extent of the potential impact of Argentina's recent request to ITLOS on the project's progress remains undisclosed.