LONDON (Reuters) — Argentine President Javier Milei’s push for sanctions on oil companies drilling offshore in the British-controlled Falkland Islands has put Israeli investors at the center of a sovereignty dispute over which Britain and Argentina went to war in 1982.
Milei, a proclaimed ally of Israel, on Thursday singled out the Sea Lion offshore oil project as he announced measures targeting companies involved in Falklands oil and gas activities, with penalties potentially extending to shareholders, directors and suppliers.
The project’s two owners have strong Israeli ties. Sea Lion is operated by Tel Aviv-listed Navitas Petroleum, which holds a 65% stake.
Gideon Tadmor, a prominent figure in Israel’s energy sector and also the company’s chair, holds about 9% of shares in the company, according to LSEG data.
The remaining 35% of Sea Lion is owned by London-listed Rockhopper Exploration, with Israel-based Noked Capital, Brosh Funds and ION Fund Management among its top five investors, owning between 4.6% and 9.2% each.
