Argentine President Javier Milei has ruled out invading the Falkland Islands to seize control of them from Britain, while repeating his claim that the islands belong to Argentina. Speaking in Madrid, he said he would get the islands back "by diplomatic means", adding: "We do not believe in military solutions."
Milei Repeats Sovereignty Claim
Mr Milei described London as a "geopolitical and demographic" risk to security, but insisted: "The Falklands are Argentinian, legally, historically and geographically." He also repeated his threat to block companies that drilled for oil in the Falklands from doing business in Argentina.
The dispute over oil exploration near the Falkland Islands is headed for a tribunal hearing, with dates set for the two-day proceedings. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) confirmed it would hold a public hearing on November 10 and 11 to assess Argentina's complaint about the Sea Lion development, north of the islands.
UK and US Positions
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month that the UK "will stand firm in the face of any threats" to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Speaking at the UN, he said: "I didn't react immediately when the Argentinian president made his recent comments, but in this forum, I think it's right for me to set out the position clearly, and the clear position is: we will stand firm in the face of any threats. We will defend the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination and to remain British."
US President Donald Trump sparked fury after questioning the UK's ability to defend the Falklands in the face of a new Argentine invasion. Mr Trump has previously indicated he might not back the UK's sovereignty over the Falklands if Argentina launched an attack. Speaking during a visit to Ireland, he suggested UK forces might be put off by a journey of "weeks by boat" to reach the South Atlantic archipelago.
Historical Context and Referendum
Although the US is formally neutral on the issue of Falklands sovereignty, Washington provided support for Britain's campaign to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982. That conflict led to 255 British service deaths in just over 70 days, as well as the deaths of 655 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders.
Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour and just three votes against.
