Argentina has set its eyes on snatching the Falklands from the UK after Keir Starmer’s cession of the Chagos Islands, Javier Milei has claimed.
The Labour Prime Minister gave up the Indian Ocean territory to Maritius earlier this months, following years of government negotiation which began under the Conservative Government.
Speaking about how the territory could be taken through diplomatic means, Javier Milei told the Financial Times: “If you are in conflict, you are not going to make any progress.”
He has said that, when he was in such “conflict” with the previous Conservative Government, the islands “were never going to be Argentine again” but he expressed hopes that this would change under Labour’s rule.
Javier Milei spoke on the Falklands
REUTERS
Milei added: “By that mechanism, we believe that in the long term [the islands] will become Argentine again.”
The president’s statement has built upon words from the nation’s foreign minister, who promised “concrete action” to ensure the territory was given to Buenos Aires.
Argentina claimed the Falklands as its own in 1816 before the British took control 17 years later, ousting any Argentine army chiefs.
Argentina then invaded the British territory in 1982, and were later defeated by British troops in the Falklands War.
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The move from Keir Starmer’s government to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius has caused wider concern surrounding other British Overseas Territories, including the Falklands and Gibraltar, despite the governor of the Falklands insisting that the UK’s commitment to the territory is “unwavering” and “remains undiminished”.
Governor Alison Blake argued that each case was “very different” regarding their legal and historical context.
Although the Prime Minister was originally hesitant to speak out after he handed over the Chagos Islands, he said in the House of Commons: “[The Falklands] are British, and they will remain British. It’s personal to me.”
Attempting to shut down further speculation, he added: “The sovereignty of Gibraltar is equally not going to be negotiated.”
Governor Alison Blake argued that the case of the Chagos Islands was “very different” to the Falklands, regarding their legal and historical context
PA
However, critics of Labour have argued that the Argentinian president’s statement proved that the Government’s handling of the Chagos Islands set a dangerous precedent.
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick told The Telegraph: “Keir Starmer has posted a sign on every piece of sovereign territory saying “up for grabs”.
“The inevitable consequence of his capitulation will be nations around the world coming for each of our precious overseas territories.”
Former defence secretary Grant Shapps dubbed Starmer’s deal with Chagos as a “national disgrace”, saying that Downing Street should “hang its head in shame”.
Negotiations for the deal had been started under the Conservative Government, years before the current Government came to power.