LONDON — British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband reaffirmed the United Kingdom's control over the Falkland Islands, pushing back against renewed claims from Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei has pledged to press Argentina's longstanding claims to the South Atlantic island chain, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.
"The U.K.'s position on the Falkland Islands is unwavering," Miliband said in a statement. He said the islands are British and will remain so due to the overwhelming position of the islanders, whose right to self-determination is paramount and grounded in international law.
President Milei issued new threats of sanctions against oil companies operating in the region in a national address Thursday, asserting Argentina's claim to the islands. "I want to be quite clear with everybody. The Falklands are Argentinian. Historically and legally," Milei said, adding that the islands are part of Argentine territory and the islanders on their "usurped territory" do not have a legitimate right to self-determination.
Milei's speech marked a departure from his previous stance. His leftist predecessors regularly vowed to reclaim the islands after Britain solidified control following a war in 1982.
The Argentine president's address followed a hint from President Donald Trump that the United States would not assist the U.K. in any potential conflict over the islands.
Milei announced plans to sign decrees introducing sanctions against any companies involved in oil production in the disputed area. He claimed the U.K. faces "multiple crises on multiple fronts."
The renewed push coincides with advancement of the Sea Lion offshore energy project toward production. A U.K. unit of Israel's Navitas Petroleum holds a majority stake, with British partner Rockhopper Exploration Plc owning the remaining share.
Shares of Navitas Petroleum dropped as much as 5.5 percent in Tel Aviv. Rockhopper Exploration Plc shares fell as much as 12 percent in London, their steepest decline since December.
