Argentina lodges legal claim against UK's Falklands oil exploration

The Sea Lion oilfield, around 130 miles (209 km) from the Falkland Islands, contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil.The Falkland Islands government extended exploration licences last month and the field is expected to start pumping in 2028, potentially generating huge revenues for the roughly 3,500 inhabitants of the islands.Two oil companies – Britain's Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum – have insisted they have valid licences issued by Britain.The Argentinian government claims the marine environment of disputed maritime areas is protected by international law.Its application "seeks to preserve Argentina's sovereign rights over its continental shelf and prevent activities authorised unilaterally and illegally by the United Kingdom".In a post on X, Argentinian Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno said the government was requesting the tribunal make a number of orders against the UK, including halting new exploration permits.But the UK government insists Sea Lion is lawful, located on the Falkland Islands shelf and regulated by the islands' government.While the Falkland Islands government grants exploration licences, they must be signed off by the UK Fo...