What the National Sovereignty Defense Law that Milei will send to Congress consists of

President Javier Milei announced the urgent submission to Congress of the National Sovereignty Defense Law, a project with which the Government seeks to expand the legal, institutional, economic, and diplomatic tools available to protect Argentina's strategic interests.

The initiative is part of the measures announced during the national broadcast dedicated to the Malvinas issue and will have as one of its main objectives to modify Law 26.659, which currently establishes sanctions against those who develop hydrocarbon activities without Argentine authorization in the areas whose sovereignty the country claims.

The reform will seek to toughen sanctions and penalties against companies linked to unauthorized operations and extend certain consequences to their suppliers. As Milei explained, those who collaborate with these projects could receive the same penalties and prohibitions as the companies directly involved.

Additionally, offenders will not be able to contract in Argentine territory, whether with public agencies or private companies. The project will also contemplate, when applicable, the application of trial in absentia and will extend the sanctioning regime to other activities carried out in the islands that affect Argentine natural resources.

Another central point will be the creation of a National Security Council, responsible for defining a national security policy that is mandatory and transversal throughout the State.

The new body will seek to coordinate the actions of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Intelligence, and Economy, with the aim of establishing a common strategy in situations involving sovereignty and national security.

The law will also establish a specific framework for the protection of critical infrastructure, in addition to a regime aimed at reinforcing the aerospace and maritime protection of the Nation. In turn, the Government will ask Congress to grant the Council powers so that the State can respond with economic and diplomatic tools against state or non-state actors that threaten national security.

The project was presented in a context marked by the advance of Sea Lion, operated by Navitas Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration, whose oil exploitation could begin in the coming months. Milei stated that Argentina must act quickly to prevent companies involved in unauthorized projects from exploiting natural resources in areas claimed by the country.

In this way, the National Sovereignty Defense Law will seek to establish a broader policy that combines sanctions, coordination among agencies, protection of strategic infrastructure, and economic and diplomatic response capacity against threats to Argentine interests.