By way of a link at MMM, Red State brought this to our attention: Holy shit! — “Argentina to blockade Falkland waters in dispute over oil rights.”
“Argentina has declared that it is taking control over all shipping between its coast and the Falklands, in effect awarding itself the power to blockade the disputed islands.
“According to a decree issued by President Kirchner last night, all ships sailing through the waters claimed by Argentina must hold a permit. The measure seems likely to deepen a row over conflicting claims to oil beds lying inside the Falkland Islands’ territorial waters.
“Argentina still claims sovereignty over the islands it calls “Las Malvinas” nearly three decades after the end of the Falklands conflict in which more than 1,000 people died. Tensions over the islands remained buried until the discovery of potentially rich energy reserves in the Falklands’ seabed. Argentina protested to Britain this month over plans to begin offshore drilling near the islands.
“Yesterday’s decree amounts to an Argentine move to control all traffic from South America towards the islands, including an oil rig due to arrive today and start drilling next year.”
A blockade is an act of war, is it not? What will happen? I don’t know, but back in 1982 who thought that the incursions of scrap metal merchants would bring on an all-out fight, resulting in over a thousand dead, several ships sunk, and significant land combat? Oil reserves are much more valuable than scrap metal at some old whaling station.
Mineral wealth, national pride, sovereignty, and hard economic times make for a potent combination. The British would do well to pay close attention to this. And we would do well to make it plain whose side we’re on.
