Argentina has renewed its push to take control of the Falkland Islands, with President Javier Milei describing Britain’s overseas territory as “illegally occupied” in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
Speaking in New York, the Argentine leader called his country’s claim to the South Atlantic islands “legitimate” and “unrenounceable,” urging the United Kingdom to resume bilateral negotiations over what Argentina calls the “Islas Malvinas.”
“I wish to reiterate our legitimate claim in terms of sovereignty over the Malvinas and the surrounding maritime areas that continue to be illegally occupied,” Milei declared. In spite of the fact that 80 years have elapsed since the creation of the UN, colonial situations such as this one remain unresolved.
The libertarian president, who has made twelve trips to the United States since taking office in December 2023, added: “For this reason, we call on the United Kingdom to resume bilateral negotiations in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.”
Argentine politicians were further emboldened in their territorial claims after an unexpected intervention from Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The younger Netanyahu, who has been living in a Miami penthouse whilst his country remains at war, posted on social media on Tuesday: “I recognise the Falkland Islands as part of Argentina!”
His statement came just days after Britain formally recognised Palestinian statehood alongside Canada and Australia, a move strongly condemned by his father as “a huge reward for terrorism” amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The intervention proved popular in Buenos Aires, with senior officials in Milei’s libertarian government publicly celebrating the remarks. Argentina’s Secretary of Worship, Nahuel Sotelo, labelled Netanyahu’s statement “historic” on social media.
Agustin Romo, head of Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party bloc in Buenos Aires legislature, wrote: “The son of the Prime Minister of Israel announces he recognises the Malvinas as Argentine. Thank you, Yair.” Netanyahu later responded to the post with a heart emoji accompanied by Israeli and Argentine flags.
Milei’s UN speech represented a significant diplomatic offensive, though his approach to the Falklands issue has been more nuanced than his predecessors. The president has previously acknowledged that the islands are currently “in the hands of the United Kingdom” and that “there is no instant solution” to recovering them.
In a controversial statement that drew criticism from his own political opponents, Milei expressed hope that Falkland Islanders might eventually choose to join Argentina voluntarily. “We hope for the Malvinenses to one day decide to vote for us with their feet,” he said. “That’s why we seek to be a power, to the point that the islanders prefer to be Argentine.”
These comments sparked immediate backlash in Argentina, where many politicians argue that the islanders have no right to self-determination on what they consider occupied Argentine territory.
The president’s approach marks a departure from the more confrontational rhetoric of previous Argentine administrations. Milei has suggested pursuing a “Hong Kong-style” agreement similar to Britain’s handover of the former colony to China in 1997, acknowledging that such negotiations could take “decades.
Argentina’s renewed diplomatic offensive comes against a backdrop of strengthening ties between Buenos Aires and Jerusalem. Milei visited Israel in February 2024, where he announced plans to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and signed cooperation agreements on defence, cybersecurity, and agriculture. At international forums, Argentina has consistently backed Israel in votes condemning Hamas and supporting Israel’s right to self-defence.
The British government has responded firmly to Argentina’s latest claims. Officials have declared the Falklands’ sovereignty “non-negotiable,” stating that the issue “has been settled for some time and will not change.”
The islands’ inhabitants have repeatedly expressed their desire to remain British. In a 2013 referendum held after Argentina called for negotiations, Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly – 99.8 per cent – in favour of maintaining their status as a British Overseas Territory.
“We will live in freedom under the government of our choice,” said Mark Pollard, speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands.
The sovereignty dispute dates back centuries, with Britain having controlled the islands since 1833. Argentina maintains it inherited sovereignty from Spain when it gained independence in the early 1800s. The dispute erupted into warfare in April 1982 when Argentine forces invaded and occupied the British territory.
The conflict lasted just 72 days, ending with Argentina’s surrender in June 1982 after suffering nearly three times as many casualties as British forces. The war claimed 649 Argentine lives, 255 British servicemen, and three Falkland Islanders.
Despite the military defeat, successive Argentine governments have maintained their sovereignty claim. Milei’s administration has also targeted British oil exploration activities in the waters surrounding the islands, with Argentina’s Foreign Ministry recently declaring Navitas Petroleum’s operations “illegal” and classifying the company as “clandestine” for conducting hydrocarbon operations without Argentine permits.
Milei’s position on the Falklands reflects broader contradictions in his political philosophy. Despite describing himself as an admirer of Margaret Thatcher – keeping memorabilia of the former British Prime Minister in his Casa Rosada office – he maintains Argentina’s territorial claim. When questioned about this apparent contradiction, Milei defended his position: “Criticising someone because of their nationality or race is very intellectually precarious. I have heard lots of speeches by Margaret Thatcher. She was brilliant. So what’s the problem?”
The president’s UN speech also included broader criticism of the international body, which he accused of “overreach” and becoming a “supranational model of governance led by international bureaucrats.” He praised US President Donald Trump’s policies and called for fundamental UN reform, arguing that its central mission should focus solely on preserving international peace and security.
As tensions continue over the disputed territory, the British government shows no signs of wavering. Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited the islands in February, stating he hoped the Falklands would remain under UK administration “for a long time, possibly forever.
For now, the sovereignty dispute remains at an impasse, with Argentina pursuing diplomatic channels whilst the islands’ residents and the British government stand firm in their rejection of any change to the current status. The unexpected support from Netanyahu’s son may have provided a momentary boost to Argentine morale, but it changes nothing on the ground in the windswept islands that remain, for their inhabitants, resolutely British.
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