Argentina to file criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum over Falklands drilling

September 8, 2026 at 04:09 PM2 min

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Argentina announced it will file criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum and its executives for operating in waters off the Falkland Islands. The move follows President Javier Milei's speech last week threatening sanctions on oil companies drilling in the British overseas territory. Navitas holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion project, set to start production in 2028.

Key Facts

Argentina will file criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum, several subsidiaries, and their executives for operating off the Falkland Islands.
Navitas holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion offshore oil project, which is scheduled to start production in the North Falkland Basin in 2028.
The Sea Lion oilfield contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil and lies about 130 miles (209 km) from the Falkland Islands.
President Javier Milei said last week that oil drilling in the archipelago poses a 'clear and urgent danger' to Argentine sovereignty.
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of Falkland Islands residents voted to remain a British overseas territory.

Legal Action

Argentina's government announced on Monday it would file criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum, several of its subsidiaries, and their executives. The charges allege that drilling in the area violates Argentine law banning resource exploitation without approval from Argentine authorities. President Javier Milei stated that 'the Malvinas are Argentine, historically and legally... there's no debate about that.' The Argentine government said it 'will continue to pursue actions deemed necessary to counter any act which breaches the sovereign rights of the Argentine Republic.'

Sea Lion Project

Navitas Petroleum, listed in Tel Aviv, holds a 65% stake in the Sea Lion offshore oil project in the North Falkland Basin. The Sea Lion oilfield is located around 130 miles (209 km) from the Falkland Islands and contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028. Navitas said last week that Milei's remarks were 'not expected to have a material effect on the development activities of the Sea Lion Project, including the timetable for completion of the Project's development.' Rockhopper, which owns a partial stake in the Sea Lion project, has not commented on Milei's statement.

Sovereignty Dispute

Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands remains disputed between the UK and Argentina more than 40 years after the 1982 conflict. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of the islands' residents voted in favour of remaining a British overseas territory. Milei dismissed the referendum result, arguing that residents live on land 'usurped' by the British and therefore 'have no legitimate right to self-determination.' The British government dismissed Milei's speech and stressed that its position on the Falklands was 'unwavering.'