Argentina has angrily rejected British moves to extend its rights over the seabed off the coast of the Falkland Islands, which the two countries fought a war over in the 1980s.

Argentina's foreign minister said the British claim — submitted to the United Nations to extend the limits of the continental shelf off the islands people in Argentina call the Malvinas — was "unacceptable".

"The British insistence in assuming extended competence over the Malvinas, South Georgia and Southern Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas is unacceptable and inadmissible," Jorge Taiana said.

"Such competences only correspond to the sovereign state: the Republic of Argentina."

The British submission, which would allow it to exploit natural resources in the relevant areas, relates to the ocean floor around the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Under international law, states have jurisdiction over the seabed up to 200 nautical miles off their coasts but this can be extended up to 350 nautical miles through application to the UN commission.

AFP

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