UK rattles the saber as it explores for oil in the South Atlantic

Relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom have entered a period of renewed tension since Buenos Aires on February 16 began to restrict the travel of seagoing vessels between the South American republic and the archipelago known to the British as the Falkland Islands. Known to Argentina – and the rest of Latin America - as the Malvinas Islands, the tiny South Atlantic archipelago has long been disputed between the land of tango and Old Blighty and was the subject of a war in 1982. The British easily mopped up the “Argies” in two months: a defeat that hastened the end of the military dictatorship then reigning in Argentina.

The most current measure was taken just days before the arrival of a British oil drilling platform “Ocean Guardian” owned by Desire Petroleum that arrived in the area on February 20, some 30 to 60 miles from the storm-tossed Falklands/Malvinas.

Experts have been cited as saying that some 60 billion barrels of oil may be found in the strata around the islands. Desire Petroleum spokesmen say that they will drill despite objections by Argentina. There are reports that Argentine naval or coast guard vessels buzzed the oil rig on its way to the islands from Scotland.

Signed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the decree calls for “any seagoing ship or vessel that proposes to transit” between the ports on the shore of continental Argentina and those in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, South Georgia and Sandwich Islands “must request previous authorization issued by a competent national authority.”

The measure taken by Argentina integrates a bilateral dispute that is both political and economic. On the one hand, it is part of the continued claims made by the Argentines for sovereignty over the islands, which have been occupied and claimed by the United Kingdom since 1833. However, the decree also reveals the growing interest on the part of Argentina and the United Kingdom in exploring the still unconfirmed deposits of hydrocarbons in waters surrounding the archipelago due to spikes in the international price of petroleum.
By restrict the traffic of ships within the approximately 400 miles separating the Argentine coast from the Falklands/Malvinas, Argentina may be seeking to also restrict supplies to the British petroleum exploration and proposed extraction. There is also a long-term strategic reason for Argentina’s decree: it may be intended to put Argentina in a better position for future negotiations over the exploitation of natural resources in Antarctica. Currently, the Treaty on the Antarctic has frozen the territorial aspirations of the signatory countries: Argentina, Chile, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States, while also limiting their activities to peaceful activities such as scientific research.

Mutual Intransigence

While Buenos Aires and London have discarded possible military action, there has been a growing obduracy in discussions between the two. “We want the resolutions of the United Nations to apply to all countries,” said President Fernandez de Kirchner during an official appearance in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. According to the chief executive, there are numerous UN resolutions “among which both countries are called upon and obliged to take up again their conversations on sovereignty” over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

Sir Nicholas Winterton, a Tory member of the British Parliament representing the constituency in Falklands/Malvinas, said that Argentina’s decree is “pathetic and useless.” According to the Conservative MP Winterton, Argentina is again demonstrating a “hostile behavior, which until now it has been limited to just words.” Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Taiana, will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on February 24 and is expected to ask him to intervene in the dispute. “What we want is to sit down at the table with England and discuss the issue of sovereignty over the islands and the surrounding sea,” said Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Victorio Taccetti.

However, sources at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires have said that they have no doubts over the sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the surrounding maritime area, and believes that exploring for hydrocarbons is an entirely legitimate enterprise.” The sources added that Argentina has every right to apply laws within its own territory, just as is the case with the dispute islands. Argentina claims the 660,000 square miles of seabed around the islands. Territorial waters usually extend 12 miles from land.

UK does not expect to deploy military forces

UK prime minister Gordon Brown, currently suffering in the polls and seeking American political expertise, says that sending new troops to the Falklands/Malvinas is unnecessary, even while he avowed that Britain has “made all necessary preparations” in the event of hostile Argentine actions.

Great Britain currently has destroyer HMS York, patrol vessel HMS Clyde, tanker ship RFA Wave Ruler, and four Typhoon aircraft already stationed in the South Atlantic just in case. In addition, Britain also has 1,300 troops stationed on the islands where sheep outnumber the people known as "kelpers." There are reports that Britain has also sent three more warships to the area; however, this has been denied by the British government. Members of the British parliament have called for Argentina’s ambassador in London to be censured over his government’s actions. Said Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell “Any attempt by Argentina to claim any sort of rights of sovereignty over the region is something we should take very seriously. I don’t think we should appease Buenos Aires – we found out last time what happens when we do that.”

Said MP Winterton of the Argentines “They are trying to impede the economic progress of the Falkland Islands, because of course the encouragement of hydrocarbon exploration in the area is am important part of achieving a sustainable future for the islands.” While Argentina may not now have the military capabilities to carry out a successful military adventure, Argentine interference in the sea lanes around the Falklands/Malvinas could significantly add to the costs for oil companies and be a tool to force the UK to come to terms with Buenos Aires. The discovery of black gold in the waters around the islands, which now exports lamb, wool, and fish could stir nationalist sentiments in Argentina and make bilateral relations more uncomfortable. For his part, shadow foreign affairs minister William Hague, a fellow Tory, said that Britain’s military profile should be increased because of Argentina’s protestations.

Reasons of state

In Argentina, it is difficult to find anyone who would support any proposed military incursion into the Falklands/Malvinas. The war in 1982 ended the lives of 649 Argentines (most of whom were conscripts who died when the British sunk an Argentine naval vessel) and 250 British. The war, masterminded by dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, precipitated the end of the murderous military regime that lasted from 1976 to 1983 and has remained a sore subject for the majority of Argentines. Times have changed: Argentines does not wish to give rise to another such a military adventure. Much more pressing economic issues now confront the country.

Nonetheless, a dose of nationalism may help improve the image of President Fernandez de Kirchner who came in following her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, and a wave of populist and leftist support. She now has the lowest approval rating (20 percent) of any chief of state in the region and is facing growing accusations of corruption, illicit enrichment, and vocal clashes with the press, the Catholic Church, farmers, and the judiciary.

President Fernandez de Kirchner knows that the issue of sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas is among the few issues that could galvanize support among her supporters and opposition. It is one of the very few policies Argentina has maintained throughout its history, regardless of changes in power. In this, Argentina has long had support expressed by fellow republics of the Americas – even while they did not provide material support during the 1982 conflict.

Seeking diplomatic support in recent days, Argentina plans to go to international forums to denounce “unilateral decisions” taken by the United Kingdom over the islands. The first test will be at the meeting of the Rio Group that begins this week in the Mexican resort, Cancun. “We have no doubt that Argentina will find support among the members, since all we are asking is compliance with international law,” said Ruperto Godoy – a member of Argentina’s Congress and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Chamber of Deputies.

Some in Britain have called for defense preparations for what has been called a “siege” and “blockade” by Argentina. In a similar but separate issue on February 9, Royal Navy vessels stood down two Spanish police vessels that allegedly made an incursion into waters around the British colony of Gibraltar. Spain insists those waters are under international jurisdiction. In addition, in September 2009 the Royal Navy seized two Spanish vessels cruising off Gibraltar and arrested members of Spain’s Civil Guard for allegedly entering waters claimed by the United Kingdom.

Argentina is now counting on some sign of support from Brazil, since its main partner is also concerned about sovereignty over deposits of petroleum and other natural resources in the South Atlantic and in its territorial waters. In 2009, Brazil found significant petroleum offshore petroleum deposits and now set to become a net oil exporter. President Lula da Silva of Brazil has shown increasing independence from Washington and U.S. ideas of hemispheric solidarity.

For Argentina, seeking support from the United States and neighboring Chile will be more nettlesome. Those two countries provided logistical support to the UK during the decisive 1982 war.

Eduardo Skzlarz heads the South America desk of The Cutting Edge News and Martin Barillas edits www.SperoForum.com