Argentina Halts Embassy Move to Tel Aviv Amid South Atlantic Drilling Dispute: Report
Argentina's President Javier Milei has reportedly halted the planned relocation of the country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at the last minute.
According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, Milei, an ardent backer of the Israeli administration, made his decision following the revelation of Israel’s intention to conduct oil drilling near the contested Malvinas Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, commonly referred to as the Falklands by the British.
The Israeli firm Navitas is set to commence a $1.8 billion project in the coming weeks, with the objective of producing 32,000 barrels of oil daily.
Argentine authorities have cautioned that the proposed drilling initiative may strain the recently enhanced diplomatic ties between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires, a relationship that has seen marked improvement during Milei’s tenure.
Milei has publicly expressed support for Israel’s military actions, including the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip that has drawn significant international criticism regarding its impact on Palestinians.
Earlier, he pledged to relocate Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied al-Quds by 2026.
Milei’s supportive position towards Israel extends to strengthening both political and economic relationships.
He utilized his $1 million Genesis Prize to initiate the “Isaac Accords,” an initiative aimed at establishing normalized relations between Israel and Latin American nations, focusing on collaboration in technology and education sectors.
The Malvinas Islands, located slightly more than 480 kilometers from Argentina’s coastline in the South Atlantic Ocean, have been under British control since 1833.
In April to June 1982, a 10-week conflict erupted between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the archipelago. The United Kingdom ultimately emerged victorious, aided by support from its allies.
The Argentine government has made intermittent moves to reassert sovereignty over the islands, which are inhabited by approximately 3,200 individuals of various nationalities.
In 2016, the two parties reached an agreement to collaborate on energy and maritime matters, even as they continued to have disagreements regarding the sovereignty of the islands.
