NewzArgentine President Javier Milei said he would sanction oil companies drilling in the Falkland Islands, the British overseas territory claimed by Argentina, in a move which could escalate tensions with London. Argentina threatens oil firms with sanctions as Falkland Islands dispute intensifies Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 10:09 Javier Milei cited Trump's threat to change position on islands over the UK's lack of support for war on Iran Argentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech during the Americas Society/Council of the Americas 'Political and Economic Perspectives' conference in Buenos Aires on August 20, 2026 (AFP/Juan Mabromata) Off Argentina has threatened sanctions on oil firms that seek to drill around the Falkland Islands as he continues to up the pressure over the British Overseas Territory. The country's far-right President Javier Milei said in a national address that the "winds of change" favoured Argentina's claim to the islands, which they refer to as Las Malvinas.
He cited a threat by US President Donald Trump to change his country's position on the islands over the UK's lack of support for the war on Iran. “Recently, President Trump declared that the US is re-evaluating its historic position in relation to the Malvinas,” said Milei. He said that the UK was on "a path of decline" as a result of immigration.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Argentina’s future, however, is flourishing and will prevail," he said. Trump's comments on Monday marked the first time that Washington suggested it could reconsider its position on British sovereignty over the contested territory. Argentina and the UK both assert sovereignty over the South Atlantic archipelago, which triggered a war between the two countries in 1982.
A law already exists in Argentina allowing for restrictions of activities of oil companies participating in projects considered unauthorised on the Falkland Islands. Milei referred to the Sea Lion oilfield - where a British and an Israeli firm are due to begin exploration work - as a "clear and present danger". Milei, who has touted his staunchly pro-Israel credentials, had previously been hesitant in criticising Navitas Petroleum - the Israeli firm that control 65 percent of the Sea Lion enterprise - compared to other firms se…
Milei's comments in a televised national address on Thursday came days after US President Donald Trump said he was reviewing the United States' neutral position on the remote archipelago in the South Atlantic.
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