According to information published by the newspaper Clarín, the Argentine Foreign Ministry decided to prohibit the entry of the British scientific vessel RRS James Cook into national waters, citing strategic and environmental reasons, despite the fact that technical and ministerial sectors had given the go-ahead for its entry. The vessel was scheduled to carry out joint scientific activities with Argentine counterparts during December 2024 and January 2025.

The RRS James Cook was seeking to explore areas of the Argentine Territorial Sea in cooperation with local institutions. As Clarín reported, the decision of the Foreign Ministry, headed by Vice-Chancellor Eduardo Bustamante , caused unrest in various sectors of the Government and in the British embassy in the country.

Diplomatic tensions and environmental considerations

Despite initial support from the National Fisheries Council (CFP) and the Ministry of Defense, the provinces of Buenos Aires and Chubut opposed the project, citing potential negative impacts on the environment. However, the province of Tierra del Fuego, known for its nationalist stance on issues related to the Malvinas, did not raise any objections.

The ship's refusal to enter the country has generated diplomatic tensions with the United Kingdom, especially in the context of the agreement signed in September 2024 between the government of Javier Milei and his British counterpart, David Lammy. This agreement sought to promote cooperation in sensitive areas such as humanitarian flights and trade relations, as well as paving the way for future negotiations on the South Atlantic.

Sources:

Clarion

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