Argentina Files Criminal Complaint Against Navitas Petroleum Over Falklands Oil Drilling

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno filed a criminal complaint against several subsidiaries and corporate directors of Israeli-listed Navitas Petroleum, which holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion oil project in the North Falkland Basin, alleging they illegally hold UK-issued hydrocarbon licenses in Argentine-claimed waters. The complaint follows President Milei's September 4 address vowing sanctions on companies drilling near the disputed islands. Navitas and its partners said they operate under licenses "legally granted" by the Falklands government with UK support and do not expect the measures to delay the project, slated to begin production in 2028. Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich separately urged Israel to back Argentina's sovereignty claim, with Ben Gvir calling on Netanyahu to sanction the UK and Smotrich calling for the expulsion of the British ambassador to Israel.