An Argentine federal judge has ordered British and Israeli companies to halt development of an oilfield near the Falkland Islands, a move that adds a new legal layer to the decades-old dispute over the territory’s sovereignty. The injunction, issued by Judge Mariel Borruto, targets the Sea Lion oil project, located 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of the British-controlled islands in the South Atlantic. The order prevents drilling, offshore installations, and port construction until Argentine authorities can conduct an environmental review and make a decision. The Associated Press obtained the order, which highlights the growing legal and environmental tensions surrounding the project. The judge emphasized that enforcing the order would depend on international cooperation and the actions of the two companies involved: Israel's Navitas Petroleum and Britain's Rockhopper Exploration. Both have stated they plan to continue with the project, despite warnings from Argentine President Javier Milei, who has recently intensified the dispute. Rockhopper has not commented, and Navitas has not yet responded to requests about the injunction. The Sea Lion project is expected to begin commercial oil production in 2028, which could significantly impact the Falkland Islands’ economy, currently reliant on fishing. For Argentina, which calls the islands the Malvinas, the project represents a challenge to its claim over the territory, which is enshrined in its constitution and national identity. Argentina’s claim to the islands, located about 480 kilometers (300 miles) from its coast, has long been a source of political and territorial tension with Britain. U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Argentina’s libertarian leader, has added new uncertainty to the situation. Trump has hinted that the U.S. might reconsider its traditional neutrality on the Falklands’ sovereignty, citing Britain’s lack of support for his policies. He expressed doubt that Britain would attempt to retake the islands, as it did after Argentina’s military invasion in 1982. Milei has seized on this, using a national speech to announce measures against companies involved in oil projects around the islands, warning that such projects threaten Argentina’s sovereignty. Milei’s government is preparing legislation to expand sanctions against companies involved in oil exploration near the islands and has filed criminal charges against Navitas and other firms, accusing them of operating without Argentine authorization. The British government has responded with defiance, stating that Argentine law does not apply in the Falklands and that the islanders’ wishes, as expressed in a 2013 referendum, should determine the territory’s future. The recent court ruling in Argentina stems from a civil lawsuit brought by environmental groups and veterans of the 1982 war, who argue the project poses serious ecological risks. Judge Borruto warned that proceeding with the project could cause irreversible damage to the marine environment.