UK based oil firm Borders & Southern pushed back the time frame for initial results from an exploration campaign offshore the Falkland Islands after a deep water well experienced technical issues.
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious is in the midst of NATO Exercise Cold Response, based in the Arctic. Illustrious is the command ship for Major General Ed Davis, Commandant General Royal Marines, who, with his Commander Amphibious Forces staff, is directing the movements of allied warships.
United States stated that it maintains its “neutral position” over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands dispute between Argentina and UKand hopes for an agreed solution, an official source of the US government assured after the three day visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron which included several meetings at the White House
The elected government of the Falkland Islands said on Friday it regrets the latest attempt by the Argentine government to economically undermine the Islanders way of life, which is yet another example of intimidation and bullying towards a country of 3.000 people.
Britain has accused Argentina of illegally intimidating and attempting to damage the economic livelihoods of the Falkland Islands residents after the Foreign minister vowed legal action against oil companies involved in the Falklands oil industry.
Argentina will take legal action at home and abroad against any companies involved directly or indirectly in hydrocarbons exploration off the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said on Thursday.
A joint declaration on the Falklands Islands dispute reaffirming Chilean support to Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas is expected to be released Friday at the end of President Cristina Fernandez visit but allegedly with no specific mention to the Lan Chile air link, according to diplomatic sources.
President Cristina Fernandez underlined the brotherhood between Argentina and Chile which she described as ‘unalterable’, particularly since both countries are now living under full democracies. She also thanked Chilean support for Argentine claim over the Malvinas and said that the sovereignty dispute has as a crucial element the need to protect the continent’s natural resources.
Prime Minister David Cameron revealed President Barack Obama said the US was content with the status quo in the Falkland Islands and ‘would stop prodding Britain and Argentina’ to talk to each other.
Britain waited only a few minutes for Argentina to finish detailing a barrage of legal and administrative threats against anybody and everybody involved in the Falklands oil industry, and firmly stated its full support to the Islanders development of their hydrocarbons resources.