Argentina's President, Javier Milei, announced on Wednesday the filing of new criminal complaints against companies carrying out hydrocarbon exploration activities on the Argentine continental shelf, in violation of Law No. 26,659. The complaints cover new companies involved in these activities, as well as directors, managers, administrators and representatives who have participated in decisions related to these operations. The decision involves the expansion of ongoing legal proceedings and the initiation of new proceedings.
Hours earlier, the Argentine Presidency had announced the beginning of proceedings to punish an additional 15 individuals for carrying out oil activities in the Falkland Islands, adding to efforts to adopt punitive measures against 45 companies and individuals already identified. The Argentine Executive stated that it would continue to advance the implementation of measures that allow holding accountable all those who are violating Argentine national sovereignty, covering not only legal entities but also individuals who, from their positions, have participated in the commission of these crimes.
The question of Falkland sovereignty intensified after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, indicated the possibility of reviewing Washington's position on support for the United Kingdom in the sovereignty dispute over the archipelago. The United States Ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd, nuanced the statements, noting that "a review is not a change of position" and that Trump "never said he changed the policy" nor "ever said he would change it."
One of the companies targeted is the Israeli oil company Navitas, as well as several of its subsidiaries. Earlier in the week, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to publicly recognize the Falkland Islands as "occupied Argentine territory," a statement that comes in a context of growing tension over the sovereignty issue of the South Atlantic archipelago.
