Ankara: Argentine President Javier Milei's government sent a bill to Congress on Thursday, seeking to strengthen legal measures related to the country's sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands and increase penalties for unauthorized exploitation of natural resources in the area. 'The initiative is based on three pillars: punishing those who illegally exploit our natural resources, encouraging them to stop such activities and giving the state tools to protect itself against external threats,' the Office of the President said in a statement.
According to Anadolu Agency, the legislation would replace a 2011 law governing activities involving natural resources in the territory and surrounding maritime areas claimed by Argentina. It would expand sanctions beyond the hydrocarbons sector to cover any unauthorized activity involving the exploitation of renewable or nonrenewable natural resources, according to the government and Argentine media reports.
Penalties proposed under the bill include fines ranging from 4,000 to 500,000 units, or legal monetary reference units under Argentine law, as well as the cancellation or suspension of permits, and disqualification from operating for periods of between five and 20 years. The legislation would also establish a National Security System coordinated by a National Security Council.
The framework would bring together diplomatic, economic, defense, legal, intelligence and cybersecurity functions, as well as measures related to critical infrastructure and national sovereignty. The bill comes as Argentina has increased pressure on companies involved in natural resource projects around the Falkland Islands.
The move also follows an Argentine federal court's decision Wednesday to order works linked to the Sea Lion offshore oil project to be suspended. The project involves Israeli company Navitas Petroleum and British firm Rockhopper Exploration. The government has opposed the project, arguing that resource exploitation in the area requires authorization from Argentine authorities.
The bill will be reviewed by congressional committees before being considered by the Chamber of Deputies.