'Take matters into our hands': Argentina threatens Falkland Islands and sets deadline amid Royal Navy ship op

Argentinian president Javier Milei has warned that the country would take “matters into our own hands” in its dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

The populist politician condemned the United Nations while speaking at the general assembly in New York, as tensions remaining high over the British overseas territory in the south Atlantic. Portsmouth-based patrol vessel HMS Medway is continuing to conduct operations and patrols in the region, which have been criticised by figures in Buenos Aires.

Mr Milei said Argentina is willing to act unilaterally over recent oil exploration in the region. “An organisation that set out to defend the territorial sovereignty of its members decided to look the other way regarding the situation of the Malvinas Islands,” he added.

He later said the country would “not remain indifferent to those who exploit resources under illegal foreign occupation”. “Argentina is not going to sit around waiting for the UN and the international community to live up to their own mandate,” he added. “We’re going to take matters into our own hands.”

The president has also threatened to launch la legal action against the British government over oil exploration work, setting a two-week deadline for the Sea Lion project to be scrapped. He said if the two-week deadline was not met, he had "instructed the Foreign Ministry and legal teams to initiate international arbitration" against the UK over what he called "the illegal plundering of our resources through the Sea Lion Project".

Defence secretary Wes Streeting dismissed the threats and said Argentina “lacks the ability” to seize the Falklands by force. The British UN delegation said efforts by Argentina to deny the fundamental human right of self-determination “is not the behaviour we expect of a democracy”.

“The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands,” it added. “The United Kingdom is steadfast in its support for the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination.

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“The Falkland Islanders have as much right to determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development as any other peoples. Ongoing efforts to obstruct and harass international companies involved in Falkland Islands hydrocarbons, and indeed other Falkland Island industries, are a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and have no justification whatsoever in international law. Furthermore, they are obstructive to global business and inconsistent with free trade.”

HMS Medway has been conducting various security patrols spanning as far as Chile, as well as weapons testing operations. Most recently, the ship’s company welcomed more than 200 Falklands residents aboard on September 27 for an open day.

They were able to explore the bridge and galley, learn about what life is like in the Royal Navy, and see the ship’s firefighting capabilities. British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) said in a social media statement: “The visit was also an opportunity to celebrate the strong connection between HMS MEDWAY, British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) and the Falkland Islands community.

“BFSAI thanks the local community for its continued support and warm hospitality, which help enable training and operations across the Islands.”