The Falkland Islands have accused Argentina of trying to engineer a land grab and have warned the British government that any surrender of territory would be “unconscionable”.
Labour’s decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has sparked fears that the Falklands could be next.
Argentina was quick to exploit the occasion to renew its calls for sovereignty over the islands.
Diana Mondino, Argentina’s former Foreign Secretary, praised the Labour government for taking a further step to end “outdated practices” and vowed her country would take control over the British Overseas Territory.
In a post to her X social media account, she wrote: “We will recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands. The Malvinas were, are and will always be Argentine.”
Gavin Short, a member of the Falklands legislative Assembly, told the Express that the islanders were simply exercising their right to self-determination as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
He accused Buenos Aires of harbouring imperialistic ambitions and warned the British government not to betray the sacrifices of the past.
“They’re certainly out for a land grab,” he said. “They have been for many, many years, that’s for sure. What they’re up to is nothing better than modern-day colonialism.”
He then added: “It would be unconscionable to even think about allowing Argentina to do a land grab after 255 people lost their lives returning our freedom.”
Britain and Argentina fought a 10-week war in 1982, following General Galtieri’s decision to invade the islands.
The conflict lasted 74 days, during which 255 British army personnel died, along with 649 Argentines and three Falkland Islanders.
Since then, the UK has beefed up its military presence on the island, where around 1,500 personnel are stationed year-round.
All three branches of the military are represented in the Falklands – infantry, navy and airforce.
The RAF Mount Pleasant airbase is central to the island’s defence capability and recently received a £7 million refurbishment.
Mr Short said that without British military support, the islands would be vulnerable to another Argentine invasion.
“I don’t think militarily, at the moment, the Argentines are in any fit state to do anything. But we do have a fear, that if we didn’t have some form of protection, I suspect, we may get another visit.
“But to say that, that’s just a fear I have if all the British protection disappeared. You know, there’s just 3,000 of us here and we wouldn’t be able to defend ourselves.”
