Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, has faced criticism after failing to address the country’s sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands during the recent Mercosur summit. This omission, particularly in front of regional heads of state, has drawn attention to a passive stance regarding the British announcement of new military exercises last Friday. Many in Argentina’s diplomatic circles are expressing concerns that there is a “progressive deterioration” of the issue within official policy.
For the first time since 1996, a document from the economic bloc did not include a territorial claim on the South Atlantic islands during the closing of the 64th summit held in Asunción.
Amid this backdrop, the British government has initiated a “legal consultation period” with the islanders concerning the exploration of offshore oil resources. This period is expected to last until August 5, 2024. The referendum aims to secure the support of the Falkland Islanders for drilling 23 oil wells, potentially extracting more than 300 million barrels over 30 years from the national maritime platform. In this context, Javier Milei appointed Carlos Foradori as a representative to international organizations. Foradori had previously signed an agreement giving extraction rights to the Falkland Islanders.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the British plan involves drilling 23 oil wells that will be operated by an Israeli company. This project has received no formal response from the Argentine government thus far.
On the same day, British authorities demonstrated their military capabilities, with the official X account of the British Forces in the South Atlantic announcing a showcase by the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Veteran of the Falklands War, Daniel Guzman, remarked that it is crucial for Argentina to take action beyond mere claims. He pointed out that Argentina has the power to impose fines and file criminal complaints, yet it has not done so. He stressed that even if the United Nations condemns British actions, if Argentina does not respond, the UK will continue to act freely.
Guzman also noted that this military exercise marks the fourth conducted this year. He expressed concern that without proper communication from the Foreign Ministry or the Ministry of Defense, assumptions must be made regarding these exercises being aimed at training troops in cold-weather conditions, similar to those observed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In response to the situation, Diana Mondino reaffirmed Argentina’s claim over the Falklands at the United Nations, describing the UK’s actions as “illegal occupation.”
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/internacional/malvinas-cancilleria-acumulo-un-nuevo-tropiezo-tras-no-incluir-a31-el-reclamo-soberano-ante-el-mercosur.phtml
