Britain has asked Interpol to reject any Argentine requests to arrest people involved in the Sea Lion oil project off the Falkland Islands, arguing that such requests would be politically motivated. The appeal follows a sharp escalation in the sovereignty dispute, with UK officials describing tensions as the most serious since the 1982 war.
Sea Lion, planned in the north Falklands basin, could triple the islands’ gross domestic product. Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has vowed to stop the project and has begun criminal proceedings against Navitas and Rockhopper Exploration, the Israeli and British companies leading the development. A proposed sovereignty law would extend possible sanctions to their affiliates, financial intermediaries, shareholders and suppliers.
The Falkland Islands government has warned that Interpol requests could threaten people working in oil and fishing, particularly if they travel to South America. Chief executive Andrea Clausen said island officials had examined Interpol’s constitutional provisions, while the organisation indicated that it would follow Article 3, which bars political intervention. Interpol says red notices are requests to locate and provisionally arrest people pending extradition, not international arrest warrants; national authorities decide whether to make an arrest, and requests are screened for compliance with its rules.
Argentina is also preparing arbitration under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea after a two-week deadline set by Milei for Britain to halt the project expired. Buenos Aires is expected to argue that drilling violates a UN call for negotiations over sovereignty and opposition to unilateral changes. UK officials believe the tribunal will not decide a sovereignty dispute, while Falkland Islands assembly member Dean Dent said Britain had assembled legal advisers to respond.