Argentina on Tuesday submitted a request to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea seeking an order for provisional measures against the United Kingdom (UK) to halt British exploitation of hydrocarbon resources on the continental shelf in the north of the Falkland Islands basin, amid an ongoing dispute between the two states about the exploitation of oil resources in the South-West Atlantic Ocean.
In its request, Argentina asked the court to prescribe a set of provisional measures to prevent the UK from conducting any exploration or exploitation of natural resources in the continental shelf of the Falkland Islands Basin. These measures also seek to prevent the UK from using the information obtained during resource exploitation to the detriment of Argentina’s rights, and also to prohibit actions that might aggravate the pending arbitral dispute initiated by Argentina.
On September 28, 2026, Argentina initiated proceedings against the UK before an arbitral tribunal established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) challenging the UK’s unilateral decision to explore and exploit natural resources in the maritime area surrounding the Falkland Islands while it is a disputed area between the two countries.
Argentina explained that the main justification for the requested provisional measures is that British exploitation of the Falkland Islands’ resources would produce an irreversible fait accompli (accomplished fact) and create irreparable damage to Argentina’s rights to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and to the preservation and protection of the marine environment of the area, in accordance with articles 2, 56, 77, and 193 of the UNCLOS.
Additionally, Argentina stated that these measures also aim to preserve the rights of both parties pending the resolution of the arbitral dispute. It pointed out that the unilateral exploitation of hydrocarbons in the disputed maritime area could result in consequences that could not be reversed once the underlying arbitral dispute is settled. Therefore, neither party should undertake any action that would alter the existing situation or prejudice the arbitral tribunal’s ability to render a decision before the settlement of the dispute.
Tensions between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands have existed for decades, with both states claiming sovereignty over the islands, although the UK has always exercised de facto control over the archipelago. In 1982, the two nations engaged in a war over the disputed islands that ended with a British victory. However, Argentina has continued to pursue its sovereignty objectives.
In 2015, the Argentinian Minister for Issues relating to the Falkland Islands initiated legal proceedings against US and UK oil and gas companies operating in the disputed region, claiming that their activity was illegal. In 2016, the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ruled in favour of Argentina by expanding its maritime territory to include the area surrounding the Falkland Islands.
In July 2026, Argentina accused the UK of conducting an illegal military incursion into its territorial sea after a British vessel approached the disputed islands. Argentine President Javier Milei also criticised the UN for not supporting his country’s long-standing efforts to gain recognition of its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
