Argentina demands halt to Falklands oil drilling at Hamburg tribunal

An international tribunal in Hamburg began hearings on Tuesday to determine whether Britain must pause oil drilling in the Falkland Islands. Argentina asserts that the project deepens a sovereignty dispute that led to war in 1982. The hearing marks the first time substantive Falklands issues have been litigated before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Javier Oyarzábal, chief legal adviser to Argentina’s ministry of foreign affairs, argued that the archipelago’s 3,400 residents lack the right to decide on surrounding resources. He stated that the islands belong to the Argentine people, which numbers approximately 46 million. This figure includes 1,247 individuals born on the islands, whose interests Oyarzábal said would be considered.

Oyarzábal accused the United Kingdom of exploiting natural resources while simultaneously citing the sovereignty dispute to avoid the tribunal’s jurisdiction. He told the panel that oil revenues would fund the military presence that maintains British control. "Mr President, the UK cannot have it both ways," he said.

The Sea Lion project in the North Falkland basin is led by the Israeli firm Navitas and its British partner, Rockhopper. The project has the potential to triple the islands’ GDP per capita. Argentina’s President Javier Milei has called the project unlawful. Buenos Aires seeks urgent provisional measures to stop drilling until sovereignty talks begin.

Argentina claims the UK’s approval of the project breaches a 1976 United Nations resolution. That resolution called on both parties to avoid unilateral action until the dispute is settled. Oyarzábal noted that the project lies within Argentina’s search and rescue region. He warned that any environmental spill would affect Argentina directly, rather than a state 12,700 kilometers away.

The UK government plans to allow drilling to start in March of next year. Argentina described this decision as unilateral conduct by a colonial power. The country argued that the project makes a peaceful resolution of the sovereignty dispute more difficult.

Ellie Reeves, the UK’s attorney general, attended the hearing on Tuesday. She argued that Argentina is trying to litigate sovereignty through the tribunal. The court was established by a 1982 United Nations convention to oversee maritime disputes. "We don’t think this is the forum to effectively determine sovereignty issues," Reeves said.

When asked if the UK would abide by the ruling, Reeves stated that London respects the court but does not consider it to have jurisdiction over sovereignty. She said the UK does not want to get ahead of the tribunal’s decision. The hearing continues for a second day.

Princess Anne arrived in Port Stanley on Monday in a show of solidarity with the islands. The local economy depends on fisheries, which are currently seeing declining catches. The oil project is viewed locally as a way to secure the economic future and build a sovereign wealth fund.

The 1982 conflict resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders. The tribunal’s panel is chaired by Judge Maurice Kamga of Cameroon. Argentina has stated it is ready to negotiate all aspects of the question, including the current aggravation caused by the UK.