Argentina Sues Israeli, Canadian Firms Over Falklands Oil and Gas Operations

Argentina announced Tuesday it will file a criminal complaint against five oil and gas companies operating in the disputed Falkland Islands, which Buenos Aires calls the Malvinas Islands. The lawsuit targets companies involved in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation in the territory, which is controlled by the UK but claimed by Argentina.

The complaint, to be filed by Foreign Minister Pablo Cafiero and Prosecutor General Sebastián Amerio, includes Israel's Navitas company and two of its subsidiaries, as well as Canadian firms GHJ Associates and Echo, the latter headed by Israeli CEO Gil Holzman. Argentina considers these activities a violation of its national law and an infringement on its natural resources and sovereign rights.

The Argentine government stated it will continue investigating and taking necessary actions to ensure no activity deemed a violation of the Republic's sovereign rights goes unpunished. This move follows President Javier Milei's announcement last week of potential sanctions against companies exploiting Falklands resources without Buenos Aires' consent.

The escalation comes amid a long-standing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK over the islands, which led to a war in 1982. The situation also gained attention when former US President Donald Trump, in a British television interview the same week, declined to commit to supporting the UK if Argentina asserted its sovereignty over the islands.