Argentine president Javier Milei has announced he will make a major statement on the Falkland Islands in a national broadcast on Thursday, a day after US president Donald Trump hinted at reconsidering American support for Britain's claim over the archipelago.
Milei took to social media with an explosive statement confirming the broadcast, writing in Spanish: "We announce a national broadcast for Thursday at 9pm PM on a SACRED topic for Argentinians such as the Malvinas [Or Falklands, if you're British] cause—a historical claim of the Argentine people who, to this day, continue to see their national sovereignty violated—and the usual HUMAN S**T (95%) comes out to cry about the use of the national broadcast."
Milei's statement on the Malvinas cause
He continued: "What cause could be more important and strategic for the vital interests of the Nation than the Malvinas cause? If this issue, which they are completely ignorant about, does not warrant a national broadcast, what issue would? Or could it simply be that there is a group of HUMAN S**T (95%) that will attack the government even if it means defending foreign interests?"
He then said of his critics: "They should be ashamed. We will continue to defend the interests of the Argentine Nation tooth and nail, regardless of who it bothers." Milei ended with: "LONG LIVE FREEDOM, DAMN IT...!!!"
Trump's comments on US stance
The announcement comes a day after Trump was questioned about America's continued support regarding Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. When asked about his stance at the White House, the US president told reporters: "I always review every position – that's just one of many."
The South Atlantic islands are British, but Argentina has long disputed the UK's claim to the archipelago, asserting sovereignty. Argentina's president is also a close ally of Trump. Political tensions over the territory boiled over into conflict in 1982. The war lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender. Currently, the US takes a neutral position on who has rightful sovereignty over the islands.
US leverage and UK response
Trump's comments are the latest sign that the Oval Office is prepared to use the dispute as leverage to pressure the UK's new Labor government to raise its defense spending and contributions to NATO. An unnamed US official told the Telegraph last week that the White House may change its position regarding the Falkland Islands if Britain fails to meet Trump's demands on a minimum defence spend of five per cent of GDP.
At the weekend, the British government reiterated its position by asserting its "long-standing and unwavering" commitment to ensure the islands remain a British Overseas Territory. A spokesperson said, as per the Independent: "The UK is playing a central role in Nato and strengthening collective defence across Europe. We are Nato's third largest cash spender on defence and the only European NATO member to commit our nuclear deterrent to the alliance."
The report in the Telegraph follows a threat regarding the Falkland Islands made back in April, with a leaked internal Pentagon email that appeared to suggest that the US may withdraw its support regarding Britain's claim to the Falklands as a punitive measure for its perceived lack of support regarding the US offensive in Iran.
