Argentina is never short of home-brewed problems (and I say that as someone who has lived there). They had 10GW drop off the bars last week. But it is also worth taking a read of this relationship

https://www.energymonitor.ai/power/E...security-goals

We need to send a Carrier… do we have any Ocean going tugs?

No. Plenty of crabs in hotels though.

But isn't the Falkland Islands within China's "Nine dash line"? :E

Bring it on. It would serve as a wakeup call.
Like last time.

Doctor, I think I've got Hermes.
You mean Herpes?
No, I think I'm a carrier

The United Kingdom didn't need them bequething, they discovered and populated them. The Spanish claim came from a 15th century Papal decree that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal, so not something the UK (or England as it was at the time) had much truck with.

Talk of China in Argentina reminded me of this little facility.
China's military-run space station in Argentina is a 'black box' | Reuters

A little old but unless they Argies have miraculously come up with a way of getting a lot of troops to the islands, its unlikely.

"The Falklands is potentially an oil rich area. When I was there we met many 'oil people' who basically told us that all of the science indicated that there was a ton of oil there, but they were having trouble finding it. Did they?"

Yes- oil has been found in quantities in both the N Falklands and S Falklands Basin - maybe 400-600 mm bbl recoverable at Sea Lion in the N

The issue has been getting someone to develop it. The field was found by a tiny UK company - Rockhopper Resources. Unfortunately Argie rhetoric made it a hot potato for the big international companies and the only partner avail was the mid sized UK Company, Premier Oil. They over extended themselves elsewhere in around 2012-13 and when the oil price fell had no money to spend. Eventually the main interest was sold to Navitas, an Israeli company (Rockhopper still have a percentage) about 18 months ago. They are pushing the project forward at last and, according to shareholder rumours, are actually in the FI this week talking to the Govt.

Expect a Field Development plan in '24 and first oil '26-'27

It will make the islanders SUPER rich - maybe, like Brunei, they'll rent their own set of Gurkhas etc etc

The British didn't "discover" them - a number of countries (Spain, France, UK, USA etc) had people landed and living there but there was no claim nor any law . It got so bad the USN actually landed to knock heads together but refused to "administer" it. It fell into UK hands more or less by accident.

The Argentinean claim is just that - a baseless claim. Mexico has a better claim to Texas.

As for an Argentine invasion ... if you think the RN has declined since the 1980's the Argentinean Navy has gone off a cliff - no subs, no aircraft carrier, no modern aircraft, no money.

The only that would worry me about defending the FI is that you have one big base and one long runway - and no medium - long range anti-air missiles.

That is a very confusing article. China actually has an orbiting space station, manned. We don't refer to Jodrell Bank as a 'space station'. Something lost in translation perhaps.

No loony Argie general this time or Maggies mis judgements encouraging him, they dont have the forces to invade and we dont have the forces to defend them (and the Americans and French dont like us these days)

Just a perfect distraction from trouble in the domestic arena; works equally well for the British and Argentina governments .

Who first discovered the Falklands depends largely on which version of history you believe, but English captain John Strong is widely credited as doing so in 1690. I'm sure you can find a counter claim, which explains the situation we're in today. Regardless, Argentina is defined by colonialism and imperialism, so it's a bit rich bleating about it to the UN.

It must be election time again…oh It is!

Shareholder Message Boards today have reports of speech by Navitas top brass in Staley this week to a crowded meeting saying they're on for start of work in 2026. They'll use a charter flight from the UK probably to move people in and out - that's how the drilling operation was carried out 10+ years ago

There are already two shore bases in Stanley - will also helicopter support to the drilling rig and the FPSO when it's positioned post drilling the development wells.

Islas Malvinas is a derivative of the original French name Iles Malouines, named by the French explorer de Bougainville whom hailed from St Malo.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d3d54a1d5.jpeg

DreamWorks, ESPN and Netflix are happy to have scenes in their films depicting the nine-dash line.
So when they write the film and TV versions of China taking over the Falklands on behalf of the freedom loving Argentine Government --- I am sure the nine-dash line will be extended.

No way I’m taking your mum home to my place. I don’t want anyone thinking I’ll accept hand me downs from the army

The detail orac posted speaks for itself.

As for Argentina. What exactly are they ever going to do?

Seriously?