# ITLOS to Rule on Argentina’s Bid to Halt Sea Lion Project The tribunal will decide on November 28 regarding Argentina's request to pause Falklands drilling. - **Source:** [MercoPress](https://en.mercopress.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/fea197a4-8cdc-4cdd-87cc-cdb83aaeeb13 ## Tribunal Ruling Date Set The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea will announce its decision on November 28 regarding Argentina's request to halt the Sea Lion oil project. This follows two days of hearings held in Hamburg. The ruling will determine if provisional measures are necessary while the broader sovereignty dispute remains unresolved. ## Argentina's Specific Demands Ambassador Mario Oyarzabal submitted specific requests asking the United Kingdom to cease new drilling and infrastructure installation in the North Falklands Basin. Argentina also demands that the UK refrain from using exploration data to the detriment of Argentine rights and stop preventing environmental protection efforts in the disputed maritime areas. ## UK Defense and Arguments Attorney General Ellie Reeves led the UK delegation, urging the tribunal to reject all Argentine requests. The UK argues that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction over sovereignty issues. Furthermore, the government warned that blocking the Sea Lion project would result in billions of pounds in lost revenue for the Falkland Islands residents. ## Legal Jurisdiction Challenges The case involves complex jurisdictional issues as the UK prefers the International Court of Justice while Argentina chose the Hamburg tribunal. Consequently, an arbitral tribunal will decide the merits of the case. Hamburg can only grant provisional measures if it finds prima facie jurisdiction, urgency, and plausible rights being invoked. ## Project Operational Timeline The Sea Lion project is operated by Israel's Navitas Petroleum and Britain's Rockhopper Exploration. Current plans indicate that drilling operations are expected to commence in January 2027. The outcome of the upcoming November ruling will be critical in determining whether this timeline remains feasible or faces significant legal and operational delays. ## Colonialism and Resource Rights Jurist Marcelo Kohen, representing Argentina, criticized the UK for acting like a 17th-century colonial power regarding ocean resources. Argentina contends that London cannot exploit resources as if the sovereignty dispute were already resolved in its favor while simultaneously claiming the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to address the underlying territorial disagreement. ## Broader Political Context The legal hearings occurred simultaneously with Princess Anne's visit to the Falkland Islands. Additionally, the Chamber of Deputies in Argentina is scheduled to debate a sovereignty defense bill this Thursday. These events highlight the ongoing high-stakes political tension surrounding the islands and the contested maritime resources located in the region. ## Implications of the Decision The tribunal's decision will set a precedent for how maritime disputes involving hydrocarbon exploration are handled in contested territories. If provisional measures are granted, it could effectively freeze the Sea Lion project. Conversely, a rejection would allow the UK and its partners to proceed with their planned 2027 drilling operations. ## Sources covering this story - https://en.mercopress.com/2026/11/12/law-of-the-sea-tribunal-to-rule-on-november-28-on-argentina-s-bid-to-halt-sea-lion?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=main&utm_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._