The United Kingdom yesterday formally claimed more seabed in the Southern Atlantic surrounding the Malvinas, despite the protests of Argentina.
A commission has been requested from the United Nations to extend British control from 200 to 350 nautical miles.This is a claim to extend asserted limits of the continental shelf area around the Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Argentina reacted with anger at the presentation of the demand, refuting it yesterday afternoon, after British representatives put forward the claim in the morning. The claim came shortly after Argentina presented an application to extend control over an almost identical area of underwater territory, just over two weeks ago in April.
The Argentine chancellor, Jorge Taiana, affirmed that British insistence on hoping to get a foot in this competition concerning the area is “unacceptable”.
It is thought that the seabed surrounding the islands in dispute contains rich reserves of gas and petroleum.
Lindsay Parson, an expert of the National Oceanographic Center and who prepared the British demand, confirmed to BBC Mundo that it would not be damaging to British-Argentine relations.
The islands are all British overseas territories, although ownership is disputed by Argentina. Dispute has lasted for over 170 years, even sparking war between the two nations in 1982.
