The confrontation between Argentina and the United Kingdom at the International Court over the Falkland Islands

On November 10, Argentina and the United Kingdom met during the first day of hearings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, as part of an arbitration process initiated by the South American nation regarding oil-related activities in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

During this initial session, the Argentine government presented its requests. Ambassador Mario Oyarzábal, Director General of the International Legal Affairs Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, put forward four specific demands: that the United Kingdom halt the commencement or continuation of exploitation activities linked to the "Sea Lion" project; that it refrain from granting any new authorizations in the area; that it safeguard all information obtained during exploration efforts; and that it adopt measures to protect the marine environment, as reported by Rosario 3.

Oyarzábal made it clear that Buenos Aires is not seeking a ruling from the Court on which country holds sovereignty over the archipelago, nor is it asking for a pronouncement on maritime delimitation. Instead, the submission to this body aims to secure an order to halt oil-related activities in the South Atlantic and to address the rights that Argentina considers to have been violated by London’s unilateral decisions, specifically, the granting of licenses for hydrocarbon exploration in the area.

"The islanders cannot appropriate the resources of the disputed continental shelf," maintained the Argentine representative, who added that his country recognizes the interests and human rights of the islands' inhabitants.

 However, he stated that "what these British citizens do not have is the right to decide to which state the Islands belong. That issue must be resolved between the two governments," as determined by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Sea Lion project, which Argentina is seeking to halt—is an offshore oil exploration initiative led by the Israeli company Navitas Petroleum and the British firm Rockhopper Exploration in the northern basin of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Its development plan includes the drilling of wells and an anticipated production of up to 55,000 barrels per day during the first phase, with drilling operations scheduled to begin in 2027 and production set to commence in 2028.

 Meanwhile, London began by focusing on the sovereignty of the archipelago. "The British position regarding the Argentine claim is firmly grounded. The United Kingdom has no doubt whatsoever about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, as they refer to the Malvinas, and, consequently, about its sovereignty and sovereign rights over the adjacent maritime areas," stated British Attorney General Ellie Reeves.

She added, as reported by Perfil, that "the United Kingdom has maintained a peaceful administration of the islands since 1765, with a stable population present since January 1833, an administration interrupted only by Argentina’s military invasion in 1982."

Therefore, it maintains that the European nation holds sovereign rights and is entitled to grant licenses to companies for the exploration of hydrocarbons.

 In her presentation, she stated that the exploitation of the area's natural resources is "not an issue for Argentina." After labeling the Argentine government "arrogant" and noting that it is using the sovereignty claim for political purposes, she pointed out that Buenos Aires ignores "the islanders' right to their own economic development."

She explained that the first licenses for oil exploration in the archipelago were obtained in 1996, and drilling began "shortly thereafter." "Argentina has not explained why this urgency has arisen now, 28 years later. Nor has it highlighted any measures for environmental restoration," the prosecutor added.

She remarked that the South American nation has "its own hunger for offshore exploitation." "Argentina is not opposed to exploitation 'per se'; rather, it wants the exploitation of these resources for itself," she emphasized. [SOURCE]

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Source of information: Global News Agencies including REUTERS / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU / INT.RU / Al Jazeera / CNN