Gustavo Melella
Role at the time: Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, in a post on X
Statement summary
After President Milei's national address on the Malvinas, Tierra del Fuego Governor Gustavo Melella welcomed what he called the national government's change of position and backed a united political front to move from declarations to concrete action. He said Argentina should also deepen its diplomatic and legal strategy, reactivate the National Malvinas Council and strengthen the tools to prevent what he called the illegitimate exploitation of the islands' natural resources.
“As Governor of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands, I highlight the change of position of the national Government regarding the cause of our Malvinas Islands. ... Argentina must also deepen its international diplomatic and legal strategy, reactivate the National Malvinas Council and strengthen the tools to prevent the illegitimate exploitation of the natural resources that are part of our national and provincial territory. (Translated from Spanish. Original: Como Gobernador de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, destaco el cambio de posición del Gobierno nacional respecto de la causa de nuestras Islas Malvinas. ... La Argentina también debe profundizar su estrategia diplomática y jurídica internacional, reactivar el Consejo Nacional de Malvinas y fortalecer las herramientas para impedir la explotación ilegítima de los recursos naturales que forman parte de nuestro territorio nacional y provincial.)”
Why we used this label
Relative to Argentina's sanctions and legal action against companies in the Sea Lion project, Melella welcomes the national government's new stance and calls for stronger tools to stop what he calls illegitimate exploitation of the resources. He supports the measures and asks for more, so we labeled it Defended.