In a highly anticipated address, Javier Milei <\/a>said the \u201cwinds of change\u201d favoured Argentina\u2019s claim to control over the British territory, an apparent reference to the US\u2019s willingness to review its position on the dispute. <\/p>\n Milei said Argentina would boost efforts to levy penalties not only against the companies involved in drilling off the Falklands, but also against their shareholders, directors \u2060and suppliers, saying such operations represented a \u201cclear and present danger\u201d to Argentina.<\/p>\n He pledged to boost defence resources to \u200cbuild a naval base in the nearby Tierra \u200cdel Fuego province, and send Congress an urgent \u201cnational sovereignty defence\u201d bill aimed at strengthening Argentina’s \u2060response to what he called unauthorised operations around the islands.<\/p>\n The drilling off the Falklands is led by two British and Israeli companies, which own the Sea Lion oil field containing 1.7 billion barrels of oil. <\/p>\n Milei said Argentina had determined that the Sea Lion offshore project, operated by Navitas Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration, could begin oil development in the coming months, creating an urgent threat to Argentine interests. <\/p>\n \u201cIf we do not act swiftly, in a few months they will have the material capacity to access the oil that lies underneath our sea \u2013 something that has never happened before,\u201d Milei said.<\/p>\n In a statement on X earlier this week, Argentina\u2019s president said the islands \u2013 which Argentina calls the Malvinas \u2013\u00a0were \u201csacred\u201d and his country\u2019s national sovereignty had been \u201cviolated\u201d.<\/p>\n He wrote: \u201cWhat more important and strategic cause for the vital interests of the nation could there be more important than the Malvinas cause?… We will continue defending the interests of the Argentine nation with tooth and nail, no matter who it bothers. LONG LIVE FREEDOM, DAMMIT…!!!\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Downing Street said Britain\u2019s commitment to the Falkland Islands was \u201cunwavering\u201d. <\/p>\n James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, hit back at President Milei, saying the Falklands<\/a> \u201care British and they will remain British\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBritish soldiers fought and died to defend our sovereignty and the freedom of the Falkland Islanders. That sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we will always stand by the people of the Falklands and their overwhelming desire to remain British,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Argentina's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-09-03T151203Z_1445866080_RC2QBNAIZ0FG_RTRMADP_3_CHILE-MADRID-FORUM.JPG\")
Argentina’s President Javier Milei gave a highly anticipated national address (Reuters)<\/p>\n
![\"Players](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2286277342...jpeg\")
Players held a banner after the semi-final match that translates as \u2018The Falklands are Argentine\u2019 (Getty)<\/p>\n