Downing Street has insisted that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is “not in question” following reports that the US administration could review its position on the territory in retaliation for Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to support US-Israeli strikes against Iran. An internal Pentagon email, first reported by Reuters, outlined options for punishing Nato allies, including reassessing diplomatic support for “imperial possessions” such as the Falklands.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK. The question of the Falkland Islands and the UK’s sovereignty and the islanders’ right to self-determination is not in question, and we’ve expressed that position clearly and consistently.”
The potential shift in US policy has been considered in the Foreign Office as a “hypothetical scenario”. The row is the latest sign of strain in the US-UK relationship as the King and Queen prepare for a state visit on Monday. The No 10 spokesman expressed confidence that the visit would showcase the best of bilateral ties.
The Falkland Islands Government reaffirmed the 2013 referendum, in which 99.8% of voters, on a 92% turnout, chose to remain a UK overseas territory. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands and invaded them in 1982, leading to a brief but bloody war. US President Donald Trump is an ally of Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and his relationship with Sir Keir has deteriorated since the Iran crisis began.
The Prime Minister has granted only limited permission for UK bases to be used in defensive actions against Iran, after Tehran’s retaliatory moves. The US state department currently describes the Falklands as “administered by the United Kingdom, claimed by Argentina”. Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said he would raise the issue with President Milei, calling the sovereignty of the islands “utterly non-negotiable”.
