Government to launch arbitration against UK over oil project in Malvinas

President Javier Milei announced on Monday that he had instructed the foreign ministry to initiate an international arbitration proceeding against the U.K. over offshore oil drilling around the Malvinas Islands. The measure specifically targets the Sea Lion project.

In addition to the arbitration, Argentina formally gave the UK two weeks to take the necessary measures to prevent the start or continuation of hydrocarbon exploitation activities on the Argentine Continental Shelf.

DEFENDIENDO CON HECHOS

Instruí a la Cancillería y a nuestros equipos jurídicos a iniciar el arbitraje internacional contra el Reino Unido por el saqueo ilegal de nuestros recursos a través del Proyecto Sea Lion en la Cuenca Malvinas Norte.

Si en 2 semanas el Reino Unido no… https://t.co/JTaBcQ7RGT

— Javier Milei (@JMilei) September 28, 2026 According to a communiqué published on social media, the government said that Argentina will turn to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to seek provisional measures aimed at preserving its sovereign rights if U.K. authorities fail to comply.

The government cited United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2065, which recognized the existence of a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK over the Malvinas Islands. It also recalled that the resolution urged both countries to seek a solution through negotiations.

It also cited Resolution 31/49, under which the General Assembly called on Argentina and the UK to refrain from taking decisions that would entail unilateral changes to the situation while the process recommended by the United Nations remained ongoing.

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno posted a similar statement, reaffirming Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Malvinas Islands and saying that it would continue to use the diplomatic, administrative, and legal tools available to defend that position.

Por instrucción del Presidente @JMilei hoy notificamos al Reino Unido del inicio del arbitraje previsto en la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar.

Lo dijimos claramente: quien explore o explote nuestros recursos naturales en Malvinas sin autorización… https://t.co/iIbM9JMwEL pic.twitter.com/FivJelZccf

— Pablo Quirno (@pabloquirno) September 28, 2026 Complaint against Thales UK The statement also included another complaint concerning British activities in the area. The government said it had detected operations by Thales UK Limited on the air route between the Malvinas Islands and Chilean city Punta Arenas, carried out using an aircraft registered in the UK, without authorization from Argentine authorities.

“The president has ordered government teams to urgently begin proceedings to sanction and file legal complaints, as well as pertinent diplomatic efforts,” the communiqué ended. 

Editorial disclaimer: Although the UK refers to the territory as the “Falkland Islands,” Argentina strongly contests this name. The Buenos Aires Herald uses “Malvinas” to refer to the islands.

With information from Ambito