Falklands oil plans anger Argentina

Argentina has lodged a protest with the UK over London’s plans to begin offshore oil exploration off the north coast of the disputed Falkland Islands.

Jorge Taiana, the Argentinian foreign minister, said that Argentina “firmly rejects” the UK’s plans to authorise oil and gas exploration “in the Argentine continental shelf area”.

“We will do everything necessary to defend and preserve our rights,” he said on Tuesday, following a meeting with British embassy officials in Buenos Aires.

Local media reported that Desire Petroleum, a British oil company, is soon to start exploration drilling off the coast of the Falkand Islands.

The islands, known as the Islas Malvinas in Spanish, have been under British control since 1833, but Buenos Aires considers them part of Argentine territory.

Al-Jazeera