Falkland Islands asserts national sovereignty after the UK refutes Argentina’s claims

United Kingdom maintains support for Falkland Islands after Argentina’s sovereignty claims

Falkland Islands Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State asserts Falkland Islands’ right to self determination

The Falkland Islands, a self-governing British Overseas Territory, once again refuted Argentina’s claims to the islands and reasserted their right to self-determination. This comes after Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Santiago Cafiero, renewed Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands on March 24, 2023, during a speech at the United Nations.

In response, Luke Pollard, the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, condemned Argentina’s claims, stating that the Falkland Islands are “British through and through.” Pollard emphasized the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination, as enshrined in the UN Charter.

The Falkland Islands have been a British territory since 1833 and have repeatedly voted to remain so. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted in favor of remaining a British Overseas Territory.

Argentina has long claimed the Falkland Islands, known as the Islas Malvinas in Spanish, as its own territory. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, but British forces retook them after a 74-day war.

The United Kingdom has consistently maintained that the Falkland Islands are self-governing and that any change in their status must be approved by the Falkland Islanders themselves.

The Falkland Islands are home to around 3,000 people and have a strong economy based on fishing, tourism, and agriculture.