The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is non-negotiable and unquestionably British, asserted Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson, dismissing Argentina’s new president’s claims that it was time to “get them back.”
Javier Milei, recently elected as Argentina’s president, declared that Buenos Aires had “non-negotiable sovereignty” over the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina. He emphasized his commitment to pursuing the islands’ return through diplomatic means.
The UK’s prime minister’s spokesperson countered these assertions, stating unequivocally that the issue of sovereignty had been decisively settled in favor of Britain some time ago. The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, have long been a source of contention between the UK and Argentina, leading to a war in 1982 after Argentine forces invaded the islands.
In a 2013 referendum, the people of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly (99.8%) in favor of remaining a UK overseas territory. Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson emphasized that the British government would actively defend the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination.
Argentina withdrew from a cooperation deal signed in 2016 earlier this year, pushing for talks on sovereignty. Javier Milei, in a TV election debate, stated that Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falklands is non-negotiable and proposed pursuing diplomatic channels for their recovery, ruling out the war option.
In an interview with La Nacion, Milei suggested that the UK should hand over the Falklands to Argentina, drawing parallels with the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. The defence secretary, Grant Shapps, categorically rejected any negotiation on the Falklands’ future, emphasizing their undeniable British status. Shapps highlighted that 99.8% of islanders voted to remain British, and the UK would staunchly defend their right to self-determination and the territory’s sovereignty.
The Royal Navy’s active role in protecting the Falklands was underscored, with HMS Forth being redeployed to safeguard the islands, following a nine-month patrol by HMS Medway in the region. The firm stance from both sides indicates a continued tension over the Falklands’ sovereignty despite past referendums and geopolitical shifts.
