Philip Hammond pledged to protect the Falklands from ‘Argentinian bullying’ last night as the country began legal action against British companies exploring for oil off the islands. It follows a provocative speech by Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, prompting the Foreign Office to summon her ambassador for a dressing down. Buenos Aires responded by accusing three British oil firms of working without permission. The Argentine government said it was taking legal action against three British and two US companies for ‘exploration activities for fossil fuels on the Argentine continental shelf without obtaining the corresponding authorisation’. The legal complaint listed Rockhopper Exploration, Premier Oil, Falkland Oil and Gas Limited and US firms Noble Energy and Edison International – accusing them of sending a semi-submersible rig to explore a basin 120 miles north of the islands ‘subjected to the illegitimate British occupation’.Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said islands not BritishShe said: 'We will see the islands form part of our territory again'Also publicly attacked plan to boost defences on the South Atlantic islandsClaimed she would sue oil firms drilling in the waters around the islands
It’s not just wishful thinking.’ Her remarks came on the 33rd anniversary of Argentina’s invasion of the Falklands, leading to a conflict that cost 250 British and 650 _ lives.