Fears of Britain losing its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands have been rekindled by reports that the US forced Britain to accept a deal to equip Argentina with F-16 fighter planes. Reports suggest that Foreign Office officials were asked “in no uncertain terms” to allow the delivery of fighter aircraft from Denmark to Buenos Aires late last year. The UK has a long-standing policy of restricting arms imports to Argentina due to competing claims of sovereignty over the archipelago.
Although the F-16 deal was not a violation of the arms embargo, British officials were ordered by the US administration not to oppose it. Wire. One source said: “Meetings took place in the UK and the UK was told in no uncertain terms that this was the way the deal would be done.” Another suggested that the US consider Western arms transfers important to counter Argentina’s “flirtation with China and Russia”.
Argentina’s President Javier Mellà described the jets as his country’s “guardian angels” after their arrival in December, part of a deal initially agreed to extend their tenure through 2024 under Joe Biden.
While previous US administrations have not taken any formal stance on the archipelago’s sovereignty, they have recognized Britain’s long-standing administrative role.
It was suggested on Friday donald trump The US position on Britain’s claims on the Falkland Islands may be reviewed, however, in retaliation for Sir Keir Starmer’s lack of support for the war in Iran.
According to Reuters, an internal Pentagon email setting out options for punishing NATO allies for refusing to engage in US-Israeli attacks against Iran included a proposed reassessment of US diplomatic support for “imperial occupations” such as the islands.
Downing Street insisted the archipelago’s sovereignty was “not in question” but the dispute highlighted a growing gap between Britain and Britain, while Mr Miley remains a staunch ally of Trump, becoming the first world leader to meet him since his second election victory.
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which have been under British rule since 1833, and invaded them in 1982 before being defeated in a short but bloody war.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we have always stood behind the islanders’ rights to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty lies with the UK.
“The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and the UK and the islanders’ right to self-determination are not in question, and we have expressed that position clearly and consistently.”
The Falkland Islands Government said it had “full confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to maintain and protect our right to self-determination”.
