Milei weighs in on the Falkland/Malvinas Islands: “They are Argentine”. And he announces a naval base in Ushuaia

Milei has come out strongly on the Falkland/Malvinas issue. He recounted that when he was 12 years old, he was severely beaten by his father, to whom – whilst the latter was extolling the reconquest of the islands – he had expressed his doubt that the British would ‘give them a proper thrashing’. When the dispute resurfaced during the World Cup, he asked that the result of the England v Argentina match not be linked to the issue of the disputed archipelago, arguing that “it’s just a football match” and stating that the restoration of sovereignty “is achieved through skilful diplomacy and not through cheap displays of patriotism”. But he has now announced the construction of a naval base in Tierra del Fuego and sanctions against oil companies operating in the disputed islands.

Yesterday, in an address to the nation accompanied by his entire Cabinet, Milei stated that he would send a package of draft legislation to Congress to safeguard sovereignty over the islands. “They are Argentine by history and by right; there is no question about it,” he emphasised right at the start of his speech. However, after referring to the historical claim dating back to the colonial era, he stated that it was not enough simply to recognise the archipelago as part of the national territory. “The Argentine state has a duty to use all available diplomatic, economic, judicial and legal means to defend our sovereignty and our resources.” “This requires appropriate legislation, coordinated state agencies and effective tools to pursue an objective that transcends any single government.” Adding that “the Falkland Islands do not belong to any government or political party; they are a national cause”, he therefore announced the package, alongside an increase in the national defence budget. The reallocation of resources was formalised this morning with the publication of the Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) No. 867/2026 in the Official Gazette.

In his message, Milei warned that for 50 years the United Nations has been calling on Argentina and the United Kingdom not to take any unilateral action regarding the territory until the sovereignty dispute is resolved, including the exploitation of its natural resources. However, he considers the Sea Lion project to be “particularly serious”: under this project, a joint venture between the Israeli company Navitas Petroleum (which holds a 65 per cent stake) and the British firm Rockhopper Exploration (35 per cent) will begin extracting oil from early 2028, some 200 kilometres north of the archipelago. For the first time in history, he warns, this will involve “the extraction of a non-renewable resource that belongs to the Argentine people”. “If we do not act, in a few months’ time they will have the practical capacity to seize the oil reserves lying beneath our sea,” he emphasised. “The progress of this exploitation will create an incentive for the United Kingdom to deepen its occupation of the Islands and to continue exploiting our resources.”

In response, the President explained that the Malvinas Decree is based on three objectives aimed at defending national sovereignty over both the archipelago and its strategic resources. The first point concerns the transmission of information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the various state agencies that become aware of breaches of the law, so that the Ministry may initiate sanction proceedings. The second, on the other hand, aims to regulate the procedure in order to improve its coordination and speed it up. The final point provides for the inclusion of sworn statements in proceedings relating to hydrocarbons, which would prevent those exploiting the Argentine continental shelf from operating without recognising Argentina’s sovereignty. Whilst acknowledging that “Law No. 26,659 (on hydrocarbons) is of fundamental importance for sanctioning those who do not recognise our sovereignty and continue to exploit our resources”, Milei emphasised the need to amend it to strengthen national defence.

The ultimate aim of this reform would be “to improve the tools currently at our disposal to combat this intrusion into Argentine territory, to strengthen sanctions and broaden their scope so as to extend certain consequences – both criminal and administrative – to companies providing services to those engaged in hydrocarbon exploitation”. Furthermore, the bill on the defence of national sovereignty will establish a National Security Council to strengthen national security policy and ensure its cross-cutting implementation. “This will enable a coordinated strategy for the defence of sovereignty and the national territory, and for the recovery of the Falkland Islands”, as well as establishing “a protection regime for critical infrastructure and a framework for aerospace and maritime protection”. “In this way, it will strengthen protection against potential attacks of any kind on our country’s territorial integrity”.

After announcing an increase in the budget allocated to the Ministry of Defence, Milei indicated that progress would be made on the construction of an integrated naval base. It will be built in the eastern port of Ushuaia, in the province of Tierra del Fuego, and will aim to “enhance our telecommunications capabilities”. “The base will enable Argentina to become a key logistical hub in the South Atlantic and to strengthen our geopolitical influence in a region that is strategic for the country’s future.” “Defending our sovereignty requires us to think of future generations and not just the next elections.” “For this reason, Argentina must regain its capacity for strategic thinking, strengthen its Armed Forces and build a genuine long-term national security policy.” “National security is not merely the physical defence of our territory. It also means protecting our strategic resources, our economy, our critical infrastructure and our ability to determine our own future.” For this reason, the sectors of “Defence, Security, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and the Economy must act in a coordinated manner”: “A prosperous, politically influential and militarily respected Argentina is in a better position to defend its territory, its resources and its sovereignty”.

The issue of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) returned to the agenda on 31 August, when Trump was asked, in the Oval Office, about a possible review of US neutrality in the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. In response, the US president stated that he was considering all positions and that this was “just one of many”, against the backdrop of pressure from Washington on London to increase defence spending within NATO. This prompted a response from the United Kingdom and the British administration of the islands, which reaffirmed British sovereignty and their support for the right to self-determination of the archipelago’s inhabitants. The debate also coincided with discussions in London regarding the agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Archipelago, which Argentina cited as a precedent for a peacefully resolved territorial dispute.