ITLOS sets 10–11 November hearings in Hamburg for Argentina's bid to halt Falklands oil

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea will hold public hearings on 10 and 11 November on Argentina’s request for an order requiring the United Kingdom to halt the Sea Lion oil project north of the Falklands, with the dates set by its president, Judge Maurice K. Kamga, in an order dated 20 October.

The case, officially titled the Case concerning hydrocarbon exploitation in the South-West Atlantic Ocean (Argentina v. United Kingdom), will be heard in the tribunal’s main courtroom. The sittings will be public and streamed live on its website, where verbatim records will later be published; a detailed schedule is still to be announced.

Argentina submitted its request on 13 October, pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It seeks four provisional measures, including that the UK prevent the commencement or continuation of hydrocarbon exploitation through Sea Lion and refrain from granting new permits. The tribunal must be satisfied the arbitral tribunal would have prima facie jurisdiction and the situation is urgent.

The UK has said it will take part, challenge any attempt to use the proceedings to settle sovereignty over the archipelago, and regard any provisional measures as binding. Sea Lion, operated by Navitas Petroleum and Rockhopper Exploration, is expected to deliver first oil in 2028.

Sources: MercoPress, “Argentina and the UK to face off in Hamburg on November 10 over Falklands oil” (https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/21/argentina-and-the-uk-to-face-off-in-hamburg-on-november-10-over-falklands-oil); ITLOS calendar of events (https://www.itlos.org/en/main/resources/calendar-of-events/); Vesper News (https://www.vespernews.com/en/news/996f33b8-2713-4759-affc-0f084206ae15); The Morning (https://www.themorning.lk/articles/b0WnOU70sKrPSmrwwDCS).