Javier Milei is the President of Argentina, in office since December 2023. A libertarian economist, he leads the La Libertad Avanza party.
Case
Argentina is sanctioning UK and Israeli oil firms exploring near the Falkland Islands, calling the Sea Lion project illegal. The UK and the companies say the project holds valid Falkland Islands licenses. The dispute is whether Argentina's sanctions and legal action are justified.
Role at the time: President of Argentina, in a national address
Statement summary
In a national address, President Milei reasserted Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands and announced plans to sanction companies exploring for oil near them. He called the Sea Lion project a "concrete and urgent danger," warned it could let the UK extract oil from waters Argentina claims, and said the project could "create an incentive for the UK to deepen its occupation."
“The Falkland Islands are Argentinian, historically and legally. There is no debate. If we fail to act, within a few months, they will possess the physical capacity to take the oil reserves that lie beneath our waters.”
Relative to whether Argentina should sanction companies exploring for oil near the Falkland Islands, Milei argues the sanctions are necessary to stop an urgent danger, defending the sanctions he announced.
Statement dates: September 3, 2026
Statement dates: September 3, 2026
