Foreign Secretary and Argentine President Agree to Disagree on Island Ownership
The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, and Argentine President Javier Milei have agreed to respectfully disagree on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, according to the Foreign Office.
The two leaders met during the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss various issues, including the ongoing dispute over the islands in the South Atlantic. Milei suggested a potential solution similar to the Hong Kong handover, proposing that the UK relinquish control of the islands to Argentina. However, the Foreign Office firmly stated that the issue of sovereignty was not up for debate.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office described the meeting as “warm and cordial,” noting that both parties respectfully acknowledged their differing positions on the Falklands. “The UK’s stance, which supports the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination, remains unchanged,” the spokesperson added.
In a social media post, Lord Cameron mentioned that the discussions also covered enhancing trade cooperation and addressing global threats, areas where the UK and Argentina could work together despite their differences on the Falklands issue.
Milei, when asked by a Latin American news outlet about the possibility of finding a resolution similar to the Hong Kong model, acknowledged the limited progress but confirmed that the matter would remain on the agenda. He indicated that Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, and the UK’s Foreign Secretary would continue exploring solutions to the issue.
The Falkland Islands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, were the focal point of the 1982 Falklands War, which resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British servicemen, and three islanders.
The UK government has consistently pointed to the results of a 2013 referendum in which nearly all Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory. The islands are located approximately 8,000 miles from the UK and just 300 miles from Argentina’s coast.
