Argentine court freezes Falklands Sea Lion oil project as Milei and Trump escalate

On Wednesday, September 16, an Argentine federal judge ordered Britain's Rockhopper Exploration and Israel's Navitas Petroleum to halt work on the Sea Lion oil project off the Falklands, blocking drilling and construction until an environmental review is done. It opens a new legal front as President Milei revives Argentina's claim and Trump signals he may drop US neutrality. First oil was targeted for 2028.