Argentina's President Javier Milei has threatened legal action against the United Kingdom unless it stops oil exploration off the Falkland Islands within two weeks. The ultimatum targets the Sea Lion oilfield project in the North Falkland Basin, a joint venture between Britain's Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum.

Milei posted the warning on social media Monday evening, instructing his Foreign Ministry and legal teams to initiate international arbitration if the deadline passes. He described the activity as the "illegal plundering of our resources" and vowed Argentina would not stand idly by amid what he called "irreversible and irreparable" damage. If the project continues, Argentina plans to seek an emergency order from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Sea Lion field lies about 130 miles north of the Falkland Islands and holds an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil. Extraction is scheduled to begin within two years, with initial production targeted for 2028. The companies involved hold valid licenses issued by the Falkland Islands government and have stated they intend to proceed.

The Falkland Islands remain a British overseas territory. Residents voted overwhelmingly in a 2013 referendum to maintain that status. The United Kingdom has consistently upheld the islanders' right to self-determination and rejected Argentina's sovereignty claims over the territory, which Buenos Aires refers to as the Malvinas.

This latest move escalates a long-standing dispute. Earlier in September, Argentina filed criminal complaints against the involved companies and announced plans for sanctions on firms exploring for oil near the islands. Milei has previously labeled the project a "clear and present danger" to Argentine interests.

UK officials have maintained a firm stance. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting noted that Argentina lacks the ability to seize the islands by force. The British position emphasizes that any resource development proceeds with the consent of the islanders and under established legal frameworks.

The International Tribunal can issue binding provisional measures, though enforcement relies on international cooperation. Argentina's actions come amid broader efforts by Milei to press sovereignty claims through diplomatic, economic, and judicial channels.