Argentina has renewed its call for talks with the UK over the Falkland Islands, following reports that the US may review its position on the territory in response to Sir Keir Starmer's lack of support for the war in Iran. Downing Street insisted the sovereignty of the Falklands was 'not in question'.
The reports emerged after an internal Pentagon email, first reported by Reuters, set out options for the Trump administration to punish NATO allies for refusing to join US-Israeli strikes against Iran. The memo suggested reassessing US diplomatic support for 'imperial possessions' such as the Falklands.
Argentina's foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, posted on X: 'The Argentine Republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom that will allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute.' The Falkland Islands government said it had 'complete confidence' in the UK's commitment to uphold the islanders' right to self-determination.
The row highlights strains in the US-UK relationship ahead of the King and Queen's state visit to the US on Monday. President Trump is an ally of Argentina's President Javier Milei, while his relationship with Sir Keir has deteriorated since the Iran crisis began. The Prime Minister has refused to grant the US free rein in using British military bases for the bombing campaign against Iran.
Former Foreign Office adviser Ben Judah said the potential shift in US stance had been considered as a 'hypothetical scenario', and suggested converting the Falklands from an overseas territory to an overseas kingdom. Reform UK's Nigel Farage said he would tell President Milei that the Falklands' status is 'non-negotiable', while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the US stance 'absolute nonsense'. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the state visit should be cancelled.
