UK – Argentina tensions rise as envoys summoned over Falklands
(AFP/Martin Bernetti)Britain and Argentina\’s longstanding dispute over the Falklands escalated Thursday as Buenos Aires took legal action against companies exploring for oil off the islands and the countries summoned each other\’s ambassadors for a dressing-down.
The animosity between the two capitals, which fought a brief, bloody war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982, has intensified in recent years with the discovery of significant oil deposits offshore.
Adding to the bad blood in recent weeks, Britain has announced plans to beef up its defenses on the islands because of "continuous intimidation" from Argentina, while Argentine media reports have denounced British spying aimed at blocking the South American country\’s efforts to win sovereignty.
In the latest throwdown, the Argentine government said it had taken legal action in a local court against three British and two US companies for "carrying out exploration activities for fossil fuels on the Argentine continental shelf without obtaining the corresponding authorization."
The companies listed in the complaint are British firms Rockhopper Exploration, Premier Oil and Falkland Oil and Gas Limited and US firms Noble Energy and Edison International.
The court case came after Argentina summoned British Ambassador John Freeman over news portal TN\’s reports that documents leaked by fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden showed Britain\’s Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group carried out a "long-term, far-reaching" espionage program in Argentina.
"Actions of this sort violate the right to privacy," Argentina\’s Deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Zuain told the ambassador, according to a foreign ministry statement.
Britain meanwhile said it had summoned the Argentine ambassador on Wednesday to deliver a tongue-lashing of its own.
"The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and surrounding maritime areas, nor about the Falkland Islanders\’ right to decide their own future," a Foreign Office spokesman said in a statement.
"We object strongly to recent statements by the Argentine president and the Argentine ambassador to London and so summoned the ambassador to account for these."
Argentina claims it inherited the remote, wind-swept islands from Spain when it gained independence.
Britain argues it has historically ruled them and that the islanders should have the right to self-determination. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 percent voted to remain a British overseas territory.
SOURCE – AFP
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