Argentina to File Criminal Case Against Navitas Petroleum Over Falkland Operations

Argentina is preparing a criminal prosecution against the Israeli‑listed oil company Navitas Petroleum and several of its subsidiaries, following accusations that it is drilling offshore near the British‑controlled Falkland Islands without the country’s permission.

The move follows a speech by President Javier Mile in which he threatened sanctions on any oil firm operating in the disputed waters and reaffirmed Argentina’s claim that the islands are part of its territory.

Navitas, which holds a 65 % stake in the Sea Lion offshore project—projected to hold 1.7 billion barrels of oil and commence extraction in 2028—is accused of breaching Argentine law that bans resource exploitation without approval from its authorities.

Britain’s Foreign Office, however, told the UK Parliament that it was “unwavering” in its support for the Falkland Islanders and that the future of the islands remained in their hands.

The controversy has inflamed an already tense dispute that traces back to the 1982 conflict when a British military task force expelled Argentine forces from the archipelago.