Argentina’s new president, who won a resounding victory on Sunday, has suggested that he wants to get the Falklands Islands back by diplomatic means.
During his presidential campaign, Javier Milei reportedly said Buenos Aires had “non-negotiable” sovereignty over the Falklands, the archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean which is known as the Malvinas by Argentines. But he did admit that a war is not an option.
Mr Milei said during a TV election debate: “What do I propose? Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands is non-negotiable. The Malvinas are Argentine. Now we have to see how we are going to get them back. It is clear that the war option is not a solution. We had a war – that we lost – and now we have to make every effort to recover the islands through diplomatic channels.”
The Falklands were never Argentine. There was a brief moment when the French and Spanish had settlements there. The Argentines did establish a garrison there following their independence from Spain, but that’s about it. However, that’s moot. The people who live there voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to remain a Crown Dependency. Their homes, their islands, that’s it.
Do all the diplomacy that you like, the answer is still ‘fuck off.’
I’m sure the future Labour government is already anxious to start the handover, coupled with reparations and apologies.
To be gracious, the Argentine population seem to have been radicalised about the Falklands since birth.
On an election campaign you want votes, and telling people to grow up and get real doesn’t tend to get votes.
Putting off teaching the issue by leaving it in the diplomatic reeds isn’t a bad option.
Obviously the response to any diplomatic overtures should be ‘fuck off’.
I hope this doesn’t escalate to another war, but if it does, I fear we’ll lose given the piss poor started of our armed forces, particularly the Royal Navy.
The UK could win a war against Argentina over the Falklands by dispensing with the absurd idea of ‘proportionality’.So, if Argentina lands ground troops on the islands don’t engage them there. Instead bomb mainland Argentine infastructure and military installations. If that is slow to work extend the bombing to cities and population centres. And if Argentina despatches any sort of naval task force to bring their own bombers in range ofthe UK then sink their ships in the South, not the North, Atlantic.
AHH, dealing with, not teaching.
Britain occupied the Falklands in 1765. Argentina gained independence from Spain in 1816. In other words, the Falklands was a British possession when Argentina was still a Spanish colony. They have no legitimate claim to the Falklands, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the UN decided to stick its corrupt nose in and take the side of the Argies. That said, I wouldn’t put it past Starmer to try and hand it over should he win the next election. God help him if he did, because no true Brit would.
I would suggest to Milei that he is facing problems much more important and consequential than winning sovereignty over the “Malvinas”. Maybe he’s playing a distraction game, but it should be a dead end.
I think, to be fair to him, he does recognise that. As far as I can make out, his idea is to sort Argentina out to the extent that it becomes more attractive for the Falklanders than remaining British. Okay, good luck with that. He’s said that their views must be respected, and he must know that 99% of them don’t want anything to change.
The danger lies in keeping Argentine nationalists’ hopes alive. He’s ruled out force, but what if he succeeds, Argentina becomes rich, and the Falklanders still want nothing to do with it? What does the next guy do?
Before Juan Perón, Argentina was briefly the second richest country in the world, mostly based upon exports of beef and agricultural products to the world markets and enabled by British engineering and British investment capital.
Perón himself complained about “tripping over gold bars” when visiting the treasury, business was that good. In those days the matter of the chilly islands 400 miles off the coast were a diplomatic anomaly but a political irrelevance.
It was only with the turning of the economic tide and the rise of genuine right-wing totalitarianism that the matter of the Falklands became some great (manufactured) grievance.
My view on Milei’s pronouncement is that this is the usual verbiage for domestic consumption only and that the reality is that it is far down the list of priorities for Milei come his inauguration on 10th December.
He has more important fish to fry.
@Daniel
Yes. Probably correct
@Pete B
The Corrupt UN has already ruled Falklands should be given to Argentina. EU agrees and refers to Falklands as Malvinas
As for Starmer, he’ll want to complete Blair’s policy first and give Gibralter to Spain
History, facts, truth are irrelevant to left
Shall we call Argentina’s proposal “The Belgrano Doctrine”? Asking for a friend.
Back in the 1850’s Argentina ceded all claims to the Falklands in perpetuity in exchange for Britain acting as arbitrator in their dispute between themselves and Chile. Obviously like any Spanish, agreements they last only as long they suit them, unless they (and only they) change their minds. (like the spanish colonies in north africa which are not up for any form of negotiation)
Apologies for being OT again but I really thought that you would love this. I just came across a story about Jamie Oliver. Apparently he went into a primary school and lectured a bunch of kids about how chicken nuggets are made. At the end of his little talk he asked triumphantly “Who wants to eat chicken nuggets now?” and all the kids put their hands up.
Delightfully off topic and a joy to hear about. The promoters of dietary fads like Oliver should receive the same response everywhere they go.