Argentina challenges UK oil drilling near Falklands at international tribunal

Argentina's representatives told an International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea hearing in Hamburg that the United Kingdom should not proceed with oil drilling in the North Basin near the Falkland Islands. Lawyer Marcelo Kohen, speaking for Argentina, rejected the notion that historic claims give the British Crown sovereignty over the surrounding waters, describing such a view as a relic of the 17th-century doctrine of Dominium maris Britannici.

"The fact that the parties dispute sovereignty does not turn the areas surrounding the Malvinas into some kind of Dominium maris Britannici. We are not in the 17th century … we are in an era where we should put an end to the last vestiges of colonialism," Kohen said.

Argentina has asked the tribunal to order a suspension of drilling at the Sea Lion oilfield, which lies about 130 miles north of the islands. The country argues that proceeding with extraction would infringe on its rights while the sovereignty dispute remains unresolved.

England and Wales Attorney General Ellie Reeves countered that Argentina's request is aimed at advancing its sovereignty claim and warned that halting the project could have "disastrous consequences" for the islanders and involved companies. The UK maintains that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction over sovereignty issues and that drilling is not scheduled to begin until 2028, after any pending arbitration.

Legal adviser Mario Oyarzábal emphasized that the tribunal's mandate is limited to whether the UK may unilaterally authorize new drilling while the broader dispute is pending.

The hearing continues, with the UK expected to submit further arguments later in the week.