Falklands oil projects backed by UK after Argentina bill

The UK government said on Friday that the Falkland Islands have the “right to develop their natural resources as they see fit” after Argentina sought tougher penalties for British-authorised oil and other resource projects in the disputed territory.

“The UK Government and our diplomatic network stands fully behind those businesses and individuals. They have our full support,” the UK foreign office said.

It added: “These charges against companies and individuals are unacceptable, with no legal justification.”

Argentine President Javier Milei has backed a bill that would ban the development of natural resources in the Falkland Islands without authorisation from Buenos Aires. The bill would raise the maximum penalty in an older law to 20 years in prison.

Milei's government has also filed a criminal complaint against Israeli firm Navitas over drilling in a major oil field off the islands. Navitas has a majority share of the Sea Lion offshore oil project, with Britain's Rockhopper holding the rest. Both companies say they have valid exploration licences backed by the UK.

Milei says the project violates a United Nations resolution calling on both sides to avoid unilateral actions in the islands. Britain rejects Argentina's claim to the British-administered islands, which Argentines call Las Malvinas.

Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982. Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain British, but Argentina rejects that outcome, arguing that self-determination does not apply to a population it considers implanted by Britain after 1833.