JAVIER Milei has again claimed sovereignty of the Falklands – vowing that they “will always be Argentine.”
, the President wrote on X on Friday: “THE MALVINAS WERE, ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE ARGENTINE.”
Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza lifts a chainsaw next to Buenos Aires province governor candidate Carolina Piparo of La Libertad Avanza during a rally on September 25, 2023 in San Martin Credit: Getty
Islanders taking part in the “Proud to be British” parade along Ross Road in Port Stanley, Falklands Credit: AFP
Trump points a finger as he welcomes Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House in Washington Credit: Reuters
His comments come amid reports that the US could review its position on the South Atlantic territory in retaliation for Sir ‘s reluctance to back the war in Iran.
A leaked memo suggested America could back Argentina’s claim to the sparsely-populated islands – and the UK is not alone in the feud.
The internal email outlined options for the US to punish allies who “failed” to support the war by not deploying their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
Another nuclear option on the table includes suspending Spain from the alliance.
Asked about the report, a Downing Street spokesperson insisted that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands “rests with the UK”.
“We could not be clearer about the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands. It is longstanding, it is unchanged,” the spokesperson told reporters.
“Sovereignty rests with the UK and the islands’ right to self-determination is paramount.
“It’s been our consistent position and will remain the case.”
Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno responded to the reports by reiterating his country’s willingness to resume bilateral negotiations for a “peaceful and definitive solution.”
He characterised the current status of the islands, which are sometimes called the Malvinas, as a “colonial situation” and expressed gratitude for international support regarding Argentina‘s claims.
“By , by right, and by conviction: the Malvinas are Argentine,” Quirno said in a post on X.
Earlier this week, Milei pushed his agenda, telling Neura: “We are doing everything humanly possible to bring the Falkland Islands back into Argentine hands.
“Sovereignty is not negotiable, but it must be done judiciously, it must be done with intelligence.”
Britain fought a war to defend the Falklands in 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the territory.
Admiral Lord West, who commanded HMS Ardent during the war, told The Sun: “Donald Trump does not understand Nato, alliances in general or alliance leadership.
“He appears disposed to allow the most successful political-military alliance in modern history to be destroyed.
“Vladimir Putin could not be happier.”
He added: “If true, the fact that US officials are compiling a list of how they can ‘punish’ Nato countries is extraordinary on many levels.
“Mention of the Falkland Islands is an insult to its autonomous, self-reliant and free people.”
Falklands veteran Rear Admiral Chris Parry told The Sun that it was unlikely Trump would pull support because “in terms of international , the UK claim to the Falklands is pretty ironclad.”
But he added: “If the US did come out and say that they don’t support our bid for the Falklands, those of us who fought there and those who lost friends are going to feel pretty let down by our Nato allies.”
Parry said the UK is in a “period of weakness, which our potential opponents could exploit if they wanted to”.
Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands Credit: Alamy
The Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible returns to Portsmouth harbour, following the Falklands war Credit: Getty – Contributor
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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