In an act of cynicism worthy of analysis, the British colony that usurps the Malvina Islands has publicly complained through Mercopress about the Argentine government's delayed and ineffective response. Its "discomfort" arose after the Argentine Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting the advance of oil companies operating in the region. This diplomatic note, which lacks any executive action, has been interpreted by the British as a "blow against the industry" and a "diversion of attention" from Argentina's internal problems.

The British position is, by all accounts, a mockery . While its spokespersons play the victim for what they consider a "political attack," the colony's economic landscape reveals an unprecedented prosperity built on the theft of natural resources. Thanks to fishing and other extractive activities, British colonists enjoy a per capita income of over $106,000, a figure that places them among the richest in the world . This fact exposes the hypocrisy of a community that, far from being a victim, is a prosperous beneficiary of plunder .

The Foreign Ministry's statement: A toothless repudiation

Argentina's response, for its part, has been limited to a statement full of repudiations and warnings. The Foreign Ministry reiterated its "strongest rejection" of Navitas Petroleum 's "illegal" activities in the Malvina Islands, they stated. The text clings to UN resolutions and reiterates that the company was declared "clandestine" in 2022. However, in practice, no concrete measures are announced to halt operations. There is no mention of embargoes, sanctions, or legal or political strategy to halt the British advance. It is, in essence, a toothless repudiation.

This inaction is particularly serious, as it contrasts with the vigor and clarity with which oil companies have presented their profit plans. The Navitas Petroleum report published by Mercopress is a detailed map of the plundering that is taking place.

A multi-million dollar robbery: the figures of the plunder

The Sea Lion project is shaping up to be a gold mine for corporations and squatters alike. Projections indicate the field holds 917 million barrels of oil and 2.1 TCF of recoverable gas . The total estimated investment is $4 billion , with daily production of approximately 80,000 barrels .

In this context of corporate secrecy, the profits for the British colony are scandalous . The Navitas report indicates that, at peak production, the colony will receive annual revenues of $390 million through taxes and royalties. And that, over the life of the project, the local government coffers could receive some $4.03 billion .

While we Argentines mourn the loss of their resources, the British in the Malvinas celebrate the juicy dividends this theft will bring them . This scenario is a reminder that, while Argentine diplomacy limits itself to issuing press releases, the usurpation advances in practice. The Foreign Ministry's statement, more than a declaration of sovereignty, seems like an apology for not being able to stop a theft that has been consummated under the complacent or inactive gaze of the State itself .