Key facts
- The UK has appealed to Interpol to reject Argentina's requests for the arrest of individuals involved in the Sea Lion oil project off the Falkland Islands.
- The UK government argues that Argentina's "red notice" requests are politically motivated and an attempt to bully companies and individuals.
- Argentina's President Javier Milei has vowed to block the Sea Lion project, which could triple the Falklands' GDP.
- Argentina has initiated criminal proceedings against Israeli company Navitas and its British partner, Rockhopper Exploration, for their involvement in the project.
- Argentina is expected to request arbitration under the UN convention on the law of the sea regarding the oil project.
- Interpol stated it would respect Article 3 of its constitution, which prohibits political interventions.
Britain has appealed to Interpol to reject Argentina’s requests for the arrest of individuals involved in a significant oil project off the Falkland Islands, citing political motivations. The UK government sent a letter to Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, arguing that "red notice" requests from Argentina for individuals, including British nationals, should be considered politically motivated and an attempt to deter companies from working in the Falklands.
Argentina's President Javier Milei has vowed to block the Sea Lion oil project, located in the north Falklands basin, which has the potential to triple the Falklands’ GDP. Argentina's strategy includes attempts to criminalize those involved and deter investors. The UK government urged Interpol to exercise caution in handling Argentinian requests for detentions.
Andrea Clausen, chief executive of the Falklands government, confirmed the threat posed by Argentina's use of Interpol but expressed hope that the organization would not take action. She noted that interested parties had reviewed Interpol's constitution regarding its stance on political interventions.
Interpol reportedly responded that it would adhere to Article 3 of its constitution, which prohibits political activities. Interpol screens red notices for provisional arrest pending extradition, with individual member countries deciding whether to act on them.
The intensity of Argentina's actions regarding the Falklands is described by UK officials as the highest since the 1982 war. Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands, dismissing a 2013 referendum where 99.8% of residents voted to remain a British territory.
Despite Interpol's assurances, concerns remain that Argentina could persuade member states that its requests are based on domestic legislation rather than political motives. Milei has initiated criminal proceedings against Israeli company Navitas and its British partner, Rockhopper Exploration, the core companies in the Sea Lion project. A draft national sovereignty bill in Argentina's congress could expand sanctions to affiliates, financial intermediaries, shareholders, and suppliers, potentially targeting those in the Falklands' fishing industry as well.
Workers in the oil and fisheries sectors on the Falklands, known as Las Malvinas in Argentina, are reportedly concerned about potential targeting if they travel, particularly to South America. In a related move, Argentina is expected to escalate its dispute by requesting arbitration under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) over the oil project, after Milei issued a two-week deadline for the UK to stop the project.
UK government sources are confident that UNCLOS will not intervene in a sovereignty dispute, citing four similar cases where sovereignty issues were disregarded by tribunals. Falkland Islands assembly member Dean Dent informed constituents that the UK government is preparing a robust response to Argentina's UNCLOS threat, assembling a team of legal advisers. The UK government is expected to adopt a more assertive stance towards Argentina in the coming days, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak having raised the issue with US President Donald Trump.