Politics · Other · 1 day ago
Argentina’s Supreme Court provisionally restores limits on foreign land ownership
Argentina’s Supreme Court has provisionally restored limits on foreign ownership of rural land.
The limits come from a 2011 law, which capped foreign ownership at 15% nationally and also set limits for provinces and municipalities.
President Javier Milei repealed the law by decree in 2023 as part of his effort to loosen economic rules.
The court suspended the part of his decree that removed the limits, in response to a case brought by an environmental group, Indigenous communities and a provincial legislator.
They argue that removing the restrictions could harm the environment and Indigenous peoples’ ancestral territories.
The ruling is temporary and does not decide whether their legal challenge is valid.
The limits will remain in place while a lower court considers the case.
About 5% of Argentina’s land is owned by foreigners, though some districts already exceed the former 15% limit.
Argentina’s Supreme Court provisionally restored limits on foreign ownership of rural land on Friday, suspending part of President Javier Milei’s 2023 decree.
The 2011 law caps foreign ownership at 15% nationally, with the same limit applying in each province and municipality.
The ruling followed a legal challenge by environmental and Indigenous claimants who argued that lifting the limits could cause environmental and cultural harm.
The court’s order is temporary and does not resolve the underlying case.
About 5% of Argentine territory is owned by foreigners, though some districts exceed the 15% limit.
- Who
- Argentina’s Supreme Court issued the ruling. The legal challenge was brought by Árbol de Pie, Indigenous communities and a provincial legislator.
- What
- The court provisionally suspended the part of Milei’s decree that repealed the 2011 Rural Land Law, restoring its limits on foreign ownership.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Where
- Argentina.
- Why
- The court cited the need to protect the environment and prevent irreparable damage while the case is considered.
Supporters of relaxing foreign land limits
Environmental and Indigenous claimants
Policy
Supporters of relaxing foreign land limits
Milei’s government sought to repeal or relax limits on foreign ownership. It said the changes were part of its economic deregulation agenda and aimed to attract foreign investment.
Environmental and Indigenous claimants
The claimants argued that removing the limits could harm the environment, cultural heritage, biological diversity and Indigenous peoples’ ancestral territories.
an interim measure, in order to ensure effective judicial protection and prevent irreparable damage
putting the Republic of Argentina up for sale
Milei repealed the 2011 Rural Land Law through emergency decree 70/2023.
A court suspended the decree in response to a lawsuit brought by an association of Malvinas War veterans.
The Supreme Court rejected the veterans’ case and restored the decree’s effect.
The Supreme Court provisionally suspended the decree provision repealing the Rural Land Law.
Opposition deputies had called a congressional session to seek to overturn the decree.
- Ownership cap
- 15% of rural land nationally, with the same cap for each province and municipality
- Decree
- Emergency decree 70/2023
- Law
- Rural Land Law, Law 26,737, passed in 2011
- Foreign-owned land
- About 5% of Argentine territory, according to a 2025 report
- Claimants
- Árbol de Pie, two Indigenous communities and a Río Negro provincial legislator
Sources
Argentina, la Corte Suprema ferma Milei sulle terre agli stranieri: 13 milioni di ettari già in mani estere (italiani secondi)
Justiça argentina restabelece limites para a venda de terras a estrangeiros
Supreme Court restores limits on foreign land ownership in ruling
Suprema Corte da Argentina suspende decreto de Milei que permitia venda de terras a estrangeiros
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