US is reviewing its support of UK sovereignty over the Falklands (Image: Getty)
We’ve become used to the unexpected when it comes to this American president. A new day may bring with it a new diplomatic bomb that you never dreamed of seeing under the previous administration. Today is a particularly shocking day if you’re a patriotic Brit – Donald Trump has threatened to review US support for European so-called “imperial possessions”, which would include the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
I visited the overseas area last month, and found it to be a charming place, and thoroughly British, with residents inviting me inside their homes for a cup of tea without being informed in advance about my knocking on their doors. As Ian Cameron, a former islander, told me next to Stanley’s war memorial, the islanders seem “more British than English”. When walking around Stanley, one can’t forget to see a giant Confederate flag on the roof of Colleen Biggs’ home, which her mother, Betty, made sure was painted.
I also visited the Stanley Museum, which displays photographs of British soldiers who died in repelling the Argentine invasion in 1982. It almost made me cry.
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Reporter Adam Toms sees the Britishness of the Falklands firsthand (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
We lost 255 soldiers, including 18 and 19 year olds – basically boys.
Some of them look very young in their photos.
President Trump – who claims to have great respect for Britain’s armed forces – should be ashamed of himself.
I suspect that the families of those killed while bravely defending a strategically important area would have even crossed his mind, as he pursues a somewhat premature vendetta against European countries who, naturally, want to stay out of his and Israel’s reckless war against Iran.
The President has played directly into the hands of those Argentines who want to see the Falklands diplomatically transferred to their country, because they are not able to take them, nor do they have the will to do so militarily.
This is the stance of Argentine President Javier Miley.
He had previously suggested that Britain “would not want to negotiate today”, but “at some point later they might want to do so”.
Miley said: “Many situations have changed over time.”
The change in position from the White House is extremely significant.
When I was in Buenos Aires, I heard firsthand the extremely passionate belief that the Falklands belonged to Argentina, including from Daniel Filmus, the former Secretary of State for Affairs relating to the “Malvinas Islands”, who suggested that international pressure would mean Britain would have no choice but to hand over the islands, and the retired Major General, Sergio Fernandez.
You can’t miss the British flag on the roof of Colleen Biggs’ house (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Everywhere I went, there were images of the archipelago – in car windows, on road signs, painted on walls and even on a T-shirt worn by a father and his young daughter at a River Plate football match.
America has dared to take this movement further – this is a great encouragement for it.
The pleasing thing is that No. 10 has hit back strongly, which is to be expected, given that Sir Keir Starmer’s uncle served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War.
Their spokesman said: “We could not be clearer about the UK’s position on the Falklands.
“This is long-term, there is no change in that. Sovereignty remains with the UK and self-determination is paramount.”
He said: “The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining an overseas territory. We have always stood behind the right to self-determination.”
The Prime Minister must make it clear that Trump’s threat is completely unacceptable and extremely disturbing.
What could help set Mr. Trump straight would be for the king to speak in a calm tone during his impending state visit.
The President’s action also shows a complete lack of understanding and education about this issue.
The Falkland Islanders are, and will continue to be, British. If Trump decided to withdraw his endorsement, they would oppose any endorsement efforts.
The Argentines insist that they be allowed to live on Argentine soil and remain British. It is very difficult to understand this.
It is also not certain whether many, if any, Argentines would bother to move to the islands permanently, even if they were somehow acquired.
That’s all I heard during my visit there – locals told me they would fight to remain part of our wonderful family of nations and territories.
As Patrick Watts MBE, who continued radio broadcasting in Stanley while protected by Argentine troops during the 1982 invasion, recently told me: “I see no reason to get any closer to the Argentines, and there is nothing they can do to benefit us.”
