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Milei announces sanctions for companies operating in the Malvinas and a new military base in the Land of Fire

Argentina's president has tightened his strategy on the archipelago and proposed that Donald Trump review US neutrality in this matter so far, while reiterating that the UK's commitment to the islands is "absolute and immovable."

AME4255. SANTIAGO (CHILE), 03/09/2026.- El presidente de Argentina, Javier Milei, habla durante la inauguración del V Encuentro Regional del Foro Madrid, el cual cuenta con figuras de la derecha y la ultraderecha de Latinoamérica y España, este jueves en Santiago (Chile). EFE/ Esteban Garay
Thousands. Photo: EFE

Argentine President Javier Milei has announced new measures to strengthen the claim of sovereignty over the Britishcontrolled Malvinas Islands since 1833 , including punishing companies operating natural resources in the archipelago without Argentina's permission and building a new military base in the Land of Fire.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said he could review the country's neutrality stance during the debate between Argentina and the United States.

The British Defence Minister, Wes Streeting, believes that the statements made by the Argentine President "speak more of Argentine domestic policy than of Malvinas."

Penalties for companies operating in the Malvinas

Milei has announced a decree to expedite sanctions against companies directly or indirectly involved in Malvinas projects without Argentine authorization.

Moreover, the Argentine president has advanced that he will send toParliament a bill to tighten sanctions against these companies  to prevent them from working on Argentine mainland.

Milei has made special mention of the oil extraction projectof Israeli Navitas and British Rockhopper, two companies sanctioned by Argentina in 2022 and 2013 respectively.

The British Borders & Southern and the Canadian JHI also have exploration licences on the islands, and Argentina believes that potential oil exploitation poses a threat to the natural resources it claims for itself.

New military base in the Land of Fire

The Argentine president has also announced a decree to increase the resources of the Ministry of Defence to build an integrated military base in the Land of Fire.

Milei said it would be a major logistics hub in the South Atlantic and strengthen Argentina's geopolitical projection.

The bill announced by the President also provides for the creation of a National Security Council to establish a framework for the protection of critical infrastructure and aerospace and marine spaces in the country.

United Kingdom reiterates its position on the islands

The UK Government has argued that the Malvinas are British because their inhabitants have chosen to be British, referring to the 2013 Streeting referendum in which 99.8% of voters supported remaining under British sovereignty.

Downing Street has also played down Milei's claimsthat the right of island residents to self-determination includes the possibility of exploiting their natural resources.

The sovereign struggle in the Malvinas led to a war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982, culminating in British victory.

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