Senior Tory Tom Tugendhat has branded Donald Trump "completely incoherent" after the US President questioned the UK's ability to defend the Falkland Islands in the face of a possible Argentine invasion.
Mr Tugendhat lashed out at the "erratic" remarks after Mr Trump suggested British forces would not travel "that far" to defend the islands. The US President has previously indicated he might not back UK sovereignty over the Falklands if Argentina launched an attack.
Trump questions UK resolve
Speaking during a visit to Ireland, Mr Trump suggested UK forces might be put off by a journey of "weeks by boat" to reach the South Atlantic archipelago.
Mr Tugendhat told Sky News that the president's intervention was "completely incoherent, but it's also, as we know, it's erratic".
He pointed out that islanders voted in a referendum by more than 99% to remain British, adding: "What the Argentine government is trying to do is attempt a colonial takeover. It absolutely has never been part of Argentina. So what they're trying to do is attempt colonial occupation."
President's remarks in Dublin
Speaking in the Irish capital about the UK's ability to retake the Falklands, Mr Trump said: "I'm not sure they're doing that. They have a little problem with immigration. They have a little problem with energy, and then have some other problems they have to take care of."
He added: "I'm sure I'll be called into that potential disaster, but if they do, I'll probably be able to settle it out."
Renewed Argentine claims
His comments come amid renewed tension over the south Atlantic islands. Argentina's president Javier Milei, an ally of Mr Trump, reiterated his country's claim to the Falklands in a nationally televised address, saying the islands "are our future".
His government has also imposed sanctions on people and companies involved in oil exploration around the Falklands and said it would file a criminal complaint against oil company Navitas Petroleum over its operations around the islands.
In the Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would be "relentless in defending the Falkland Islanders' right to be British".
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. It sparked the Falklands war, which led to 255 British service deaths in just over 70 days. It also led to 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.
