The Argentine Government has informed this Monday that it will file a criminal complaint against the Israeli oil company Navitas and several of its subsidiaries, as well as against JHI Associates Inc., based in Canada, and its shareholder Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gaz Ltd., for allegedly operating with licenses granted by the British Executive to carry out exploration and/or exploitation tasks of hydrocarbons in the North Falkland Basin.
"The complaint is promoted by virtue of the fact that the companies Navitas Petroleum Development & Production Ltd., Navitas Petroleum Atlantic United and JHI Associates Inc. allegedly have licenses granted by the illegitimate Government of the United Kingdom for the exploration and/or exploitation of hydrocarbons in the North Falkland Basin, in violation of the provisions established by Law No. 26.659," states the statement from the Argentine Government.
The measure also extends to the shareholders of Navitas Petroleum LP and Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas LTD., as well as to "all" directors, managers, auditors, members of the supervisory board, administrators, agents, representatives or authorized persons who have participated in this "punishable act."
According to the Casa Rosada, the filing of this complaint constitutes a concrete step to "protect natural resources and safeguard Argentina's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the corresponding maritime and insular spaces, as they are an integral part of the national territory."
Subsequently, Buenos Aires has emphasized that the defense of sovereignty "must be exercised through all the legal and institutional tools that the National State has at its disposal to prevent third parties from developing activities on resources belonging to the Argentine Republic."
In this regard, the official statement indicates that the Executive of Javier Milei "will continue investigating and promoting the necessary actions to ensure that no act that violates the sovereign rights" of the country goes unpunished.
The announcement has been made on the same day that the Israeli Minister of Internal Security and leader of the far-right party Jewish Home, Itamar Ben Gvir, has suggested that the Israeli Government recognize the Falkland Islands, administered by the United Kingdom, as Argentine territory occupied by the United Kingdom, in response to the announced diplomatic shift of London regarding Israel.
The decision of the Argentine Executive comes just a few days after Milei addressed the citizens to announce a decree aimed at accelerating the tightening of sanctions against those who participate in oil extraction projects in the Malvinas "without authorization" from Buenos Aires. Following that announcement, the authorities initiated a sanctioning file against 45 companies and individuals linked to the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the disputed archipelago.
This Monday, and in coherence with the president's plan to establish a naval base integrated in the province of Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of the American continent, the Presidency has communicated the signing of an instruction to the Minister of Economy, Luis Andrés Caputo, to prioritize in the preparation of the National Budget Project for 2027 the development of said base and "other strategic projects that ensure National Security and the protection of the sovereign interests" of the country.
"These measures are part of a comprehensive policy aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Argentine State to defend its territory, protect its natural resources, and safeguard its strategic interests," the Latin American Executive has emphasized.