Argentina has given the United Kingdom a two-week deadline to halt plans for oil exploration in the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands or face international arbitration. The announcement came from Argentine President Javier Milei, who stated that his government had initiated legal proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the Sea Lion project located in the North Falkland Basin.

Milei, in a message posted on the social media platform X, emphasized Argentina's claim to the islands—referred to as the Malvinas in Argentina—and urged that sovereignty be “defended with deeds, not words.” He warned that if the UK did not cease what he described as illegitimate exploitation within the two-week period, Argentina would bring the case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

This move by Argentina appears to be influenced by a 2021 tribunal ruling involving the Chagos archipelago, where the court found that Britain was not the rightful “coastal state” in that region. Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno confirmed the formal notification to the UK about starting arbitration. He asserted that any exploration or extraction of natural resources from the Malvinas without Argentine consent would lead to consequences and stressed that Argentina’s actions align with international law and advocate for peaceful resolution.

The dispute centers around the Sea Lion oil project, operated by Israel’s Navitas Petroleum, with the UK company Rockhopper Exploration holding a minority stake. The project is situated approximately 140 miles north of the Falkland Islands, with drilling anticipated to commence early next year. Argentina has consistently considered any oil prospecting or extraction in the area, conducted without its authorization, as illegal.

In a recent speech to the United Nations, President Milei criticized the organization, branding it “useless” and accusing it of ignoring Britain’s “unilateral changes” near the Falklands. He also asserted that Argentina may resort to taking matters into its own hands if peaceful efforts fail.

The UK government has yet to respond publicly to Argentina’s ultimatum and the initiation of arbitration proceedings. The longstanding sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands remains a sensitive issue, with both countries maintaining their claims over the territory and its surrounding maritime resources.