Argentina ups the rhetoric over Falklands oil

Telegraph:
In its latest escalation of rhetoric over the disputed islands, Argentina said it had written to Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL), Borders & Southern, Rockhopper, Desire Petroleum and Argos Resources on April 17, to "notify them of their illicit actions and their consequences".
"In case of failure to offer a response and once the deadline expires, administrative sanctions will be imposed to each company within the framework of an Energy Secretariat resolution which deems these activities illegal," it said. "The Argentine government will also press criminal and civil charges."
It gave no details of the form in which it intended to pursue such action, however. None of the explorers has any assets in Argentina and the British Foreign Office has said it is "deeply sceptical" that Argentina could pursue penalties against such companies in foreign courts.
Argentina said in March it planned to sue the explorers, but this is thought to be the first time this year it has written to them and the first time it has set a deadline. Legal letters have been sent to the companies in previous years, and in March were sent to banks who advised them, but no legal action has resulted.
Earlier this month, FOGL chief executive Tim Bushell shrugged off the "political noise" from Argentina: "Our legal advice is there are no grounds under any international law for pursuing their claims," he said. The companies either declined to comment or could not be reached for response on Thursday night but it is not thought any of them intends to reply to the letters.
... 
This seems to be further evidence that the current government in Argentina is nuts.  After they seized control of an oil company they had been abusing with onerous regulations, they threaten criminal charges over people over whom they have no jurisdiction.  The government seems to be devoid of logic these days.  It is in the throws of base emotions, instead of common sense.

Will there be any energy company willing to do business in Argentina?  I doubt it.

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