Falklands oil: three firms deny work after Argentina threat

Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes said they do not and will not work on hydrocarbon projects near the Falkland Islands after Argentina opened proceedings against 45 entities linked to oil exploration and exploitation around the disputed South Atlantic territory.

Argentina's presidency said Friday it had ordered proceedings to “investigate and penalize” entities linked to hydrocarbon work around the islands. The statement did not name the entities.

Argentine media said the entities include British, US, Canadian, Israeli, Danish and Dutch companies. On Saturday afternoon, the three oilfield services companies issued statements denying involvement in hydrocarbon projects near the islands.

President Javier Milei later shared a news item on X reporting the company statements, along with an acronym translated as “everything is going according to plan.”

Milei renewed Argentina's claim to the Falklands in a Thursday speech and announced tougher sanctions on companies linked to nearby oil projects. He said there were “winds of change in the world” favourable to Argentina's claim.

The dispute has focused on oil work promoted by British company Rockhopper and Israeli company Navitas. Argentine Falklands War veterans and environmental lawyers have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the project.

Milei's speech followed comments from US President Donald Trump on Monday that the United States was reviewing its position on the Falkland Islands. Argentine media reports said Washington had threatened to oppose Britain's sovereignty over the archipelago if Britain did not increase its NATO defence spending.

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Friday that Britain's commitment to the Falklands was “unshakeable.” He wrote on social media: “The Falklands are British because Falkland Islanders choose to be British.”

The Falklands are about 600 kilometres east of Argentina's southernmost tip and are administered by Britain. Argentines call the islands Las Malvinas.

Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war over the islands in 1982 after Argentine forces invaded and Britain sent a naval task force to retake them. The war ended after 74 days with the surrender of the Argentine government and killed 649 Argentines and 255 British troops. Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain British.