Argentina asks the Law of the Sea tribunal to halt the Sea Lion oil project

13 October 2026

Argentina filed a request for provisional measures at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which sits at Hamburg, asking it to halt British-authorised hydrocarbon activity off the Malvinas/Falkland Islands. Argentina wants the United Kingdom stopped from exploiting hydrocarbons on the continental shelf of the North Falkland Basin. It had begun arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom on 28 September under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the provisional-measures request is made under Article 290(5) of the convention while that arbitral tribunal is being formed. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the aim is to prevent the start or continuation of hydrocarbon development at the Sea Lion field, about 220 km north of the islands, held by Navitas Petroleum with 65 per cent and Rockhopper Exploration with 35 per cent. The tribunal has not been asked to rule on sovereignty. The United Kingdom rejects the claim and says the islanders have the right to self-determination and to develop their natural resources. Development drilling is planned for early 2027 and production for 2028.