Quirno explained Milei's historic crusade in the Malvinas: “It is the first time that it is submitted to an international tribunal”

The chancellor Pablo Quirno explained this Monday the scope of the legal process initiated by the Government of Javier Milei against the United Kingdom to try to stop the unilateral exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Falkland Islands and assured that this is an unprecedented action in the history of the Argentine claim.

In an interview with Eduardo Feinmann on A24, the official detailed that Argentina formally summoned the United Kingdom as a preliminary step to initiating an arbitration procedure under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “This is the first time in history that the dispute over the unilateral actions carried out by the United Kingdom regarding illegal exploitation is submitted to an international tribunal,” he explained.

The measure specifically targets hydrocarbon activities developed in the North Falkland Basin, particularly the Sea Lion project. The Government denounces its execution over resources belonging to the Argentine Continental Shelf. “These are resources that are being exploited and are part of our Continental Shelf. They are non-renewable resources that belong to us; there cannot be unilateral decisions,” the chancellor stated.

Quirno also explained that the procedure initially includes a 15-day period for the United Kingdom to have the opportunity to halt the questioned activities. If London does not respond favorably, Argentina will go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to request provisional measures while the arbitration tribunal is established. As the minister explained, any eventual resolution will be binding for the parties. “The arbitration will have a decision, and the results will be mandatory,” he emphasized.

The chancellor also responded to criticisms made by opposition sectors against the strategy deployed by the Government. “We are neither more nor less 'Falklanders' than any Argentine,” he affirmed, noting that Milei's administration decided to adopt a different strategy to strengthen the available tools against British activities.

In this regard, he recalled that the Executive regulated the Law 26.659 to expand the capacity to sanction companies and suppliers linked to licenses granted by British authorities in the islands. The Government had already initiated criminal actions against companies linked to the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the area during September.

Quirno clarified that the international procedure will not submit the discussion on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands to arbitration, but rather the unilateral actions related to natural resources. “Our objective is that no party takes unilateral measures,” the chancellor summarized regarding the Argentine strategy.

With this strategy, the Government seeks to stop British unilateral actions in the Falklands through sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and international legal tools, without submitting the Argentine claim of sovereignty to arbitration.