The Government of Javier Milei has called this Tuesday the ambassador of the United Kingdom in Buenos Aires, David Cairns, as a gesture of protest against the decision of the authorities of the Falkland Islands, under British administration, to extend the licenses for carrying out exploration and production activities of oil in the archipelago.
The Argentine Executive thus conveyed to London its "strong rejection of the recent announcement made by the illegitimate authorities of the Falkland Islands regarding the intended extension of 'licenses' for offshore hydrocarbon production."
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its social networks, the Government also expressed its opposition to "the intended approval for the acquisition of shares by the company Navitas Petroleum Atlantic Limited in the 'license PL001'."
In the official note, the Ministry emphasizes that "the unilateral exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources in the Argentine Continental Shelf is openly contrary to International Law and violates Argentine national sovereignty."
Buenos Aires particularly insists on its rejection of any unilateral decision that does not have "the express authorization of the competent authorities of the Argentine Republic," considering it to be "an unlawful act" both in light of Argentine legislation and International Law.
In that line, the statement highlights that "the Argentine Republic does not recognize competence or jurisdiction to any other authority than its own to establish the conditions that make possible the activities related to hydrocarbons in the Argentine Continental Shelf, both for the granting of concessions, shares, investment commitments, and for the extension of intended licenses."
The Ministry headed by Pablo Quirno also states that it will use "all diplomatic, administrative, economic, judicial, and legal tools at its disposal to defend its rights" and to bring to court those who seek to "illegally exploit (its) natural resources."
This position is made public after the authorities of the Falklands announced a five-year extension of all existing licenses for offshore oil activities, with the possibility of extending them for another two additional years.