Key facts
- Argentina filed its complaint with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in October 2026.
- The tribunal, based in Hamburg, can issue legally binding rulings on maritime disputes.
- Sea Lion is operated by Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Ltd, a UK-based wholly owned subsidiary of Israel's Navitas Petroleum, with partner Rockhopper Exploration.
- The companies reached a final investment decision on the Sea Lion Northern Development earlier in 2026, and Navitas Petroleum says first oil is planned for March 2028.
- A spokesman for the UK prime minister said the hearing is not about the sovereignty of the Falklands.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Tuesday began hearings of Argentina's complaint about the UK's oil drilling project north of the Falkland Islands, which Argentinian President Javier Milei claims is unlawful amid a revived row with Britain over who controls the Falklands. The tribunal is based in Hamburg and can issue legally binding rulings on maritime disputes.
The Sea Lion oil field is operated by Navitas Petroleum Development and Production Ltd, a UK-based wholly owned subsidiary of Israeli Navitas Petroleum, and its British partner Rockhopper Exploration. The companies earlier in 2026 reached a final investment decision on the Sea Lion Northern Development, meaning all necessary approvals and funding for full-scale project execution have been secured, and Navitas Petroleum says first oil is planned for March 2028.
Argentina took the case to the tribunal in October after months of tensions over the Falklands and the drilling project. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in September, shortly after Milei escalated his fight for the Falklands: "We will always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British. That will never change under this Government, and we will be relentless in defending that."
The prime minister's official spokesman told The Independent on Monday that the UK is "fully engaged in the UNCLOS process and we'll clearly set out our position on Argentina's request for provisional measures before the tribunal." The spokesman added: "We'll continue to robustly defend our interests and those of the Falkland Islanders. The hearing is not about the sovereignty of the Falklands."