Milei Vows Tougher Sanctions, Defense Push Over Falklands Oil Drilling

Argentine President Javier Milei said on Thursday he would tighten sanctions on companies involved in oil projects around the Falkland Islands, boost defense resources in the country's south and send Congress a bill aimed at strengthening Argentina's response to what he called violations of its sovereignty.

In a televised address, Milei said he would sign a decree to speed sanctions under Argentine law against companies participating in oil and gas extraction in territory Argentina considers its own but that remains under British control.

He said Argentina would boost efforts to levy penalties not only against the companies involved, but also against their shareholders, directors and suppliers.

"We will continue to bar from operating in Argentine territory companies involved, directly or indirectly, in projects in the (islands) without Argentine authorization," Milei said.

He also said the government would issue an emergency decree to expand defense resources to build a naval base in the nearby Tierra del Fuego province and strengthen telecommunications capabilities.

Milei added that he would send Congress an urgent "national sovereignty