Defence secretary Wes Streeting has insisted Britain’s commitment to the Falkland Islands is “absolute and unshakeable” after the Argentinian president threatened sanctions on oil companies in the area in a dramatic escalation of tensions.
In a national address overnight, Javier Milei said the “winds of change” favoured Argentina’s claim to control over the British territory, and insisted US president Donald Trump’s willingness to review the US position on the islands was “not empty words”.
Hitting back on Friday morning, Mr Streeting posted on X: “Milei’s statement overnight tells us more about domestic politics in Argentina than it does about the Falkland Islands.
“The Falklands are British because Falkland Islanders choose to be British. Our commitment to the Falklands is absolute and unshakeable.”
In his address, the Argentinian president reiterated the country’s claim on the Falkland Islands and said he would introduce sanctions on any oil companies working in the area “under the British occupation”.
He was speaking in a national address amid renewed tensions over the British overseas territory after President Trump hinted the US would not help the UK in a future conflict over the islands.
Mr Milei said: “I want to be quite clear with everybody. The Falklands are Argentinian. Historically and legally. There can be no argument. They are part of the Argentine territory.
“The islanders on their usurped territory do not have a legitimate right to self-determination and any argument on any such self-determination is invalid.”
He said the UK was facing “multiple crises on multiple fronts” and said he would sign decrees to introduce sanctions against any companies working on oil production in the area.
Mr Milei declared the Sea Lion oilfield, owned by an Israeli and a British firm where production is expected to begin in 2028, a “clear and present danger” to the country’s claims.
“If we do not act swiftly in a few months, they will have the material capacity to access the oil that lies underneath our sea. Something that has never happened before,” he said.
Announcing plans for a naval base in Tierra del Fuego in the south of Argentina, he said Mr Trump – a close ally of his – and the US was “assessing their historical position in regard to the Falklands”.
“That is not empty words, as they understand that Argentina is a reliable partner and a valuable ally for decades to come,” he said
“Our role and relevance as a country in the world has changed dramatically. The Falklands are our future – we need to recover these islands which are nationally relevant. There is no other path forward.
“It is the best way of paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for this cause. It is our obligation as a nation to honour their memory.”
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK’s position was “unwavering”. He added that the islands “are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders. Their right of self-determination is paramount, grounded in international law and we will resolutely uphold it”.
Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons’ foreign affairs select committee, hit out at Mr Milei, telling The Independent: “The Falkland Islands belong to the islanders and so do their resources. Nothing is going to change that and certainly not Argentinian sanctions. Milei should keep his electioneering off British territory and focus on inflation, poverty and paying back its loan from the IMF.”
Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, said Mr Milei’s statement was “extraordinary and outrageous”. He accused him of trying to ease “difficulties in his country, his economic policies are not helping and things are very hard”.
But he warned his comment risks “raising the temperature and you can always get some extremist or some nutcase that does something silly… we will have to look carefully at the defence aspects of the islands, which costs money and makes life more difficult.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch blamed Argentina’s threats on Labour’s plans to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Writing on X, she said “Britain does not surrender to bullies” but claimed the “madness of surrendering the Chagos Islands means other countries are now trying their luck”.
“If we do not defend our own interests, whether on energy or territory, others will happily exploit that weakness,” she added.
The US president on Thursday suggested he would not back the UK in a fight over the territory in retaliation for what he sees as the UK’s failure to support his war with Iran. He said: “Your country was not there to help me.”
Sarah Rogers, a senior official in the US State Department, wrote on X that “exciting things are happening in the Western Hemisphere” alongside a photo of her and Mr Milei ahead of his speech.
In a 2013 referendum, the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour and just three votes against.
Although the US is formally neutral, Washington provided support for Britain’s campaign to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.
British-based oil exploration company Rockhopper said it did not expect a “material effect” on its offshore oil project near the Falkland Islands after Mr Milei’s threat.
In a statement, Rockhopper and Navitas said: “The partnership operates pursuant to valid petroleum licenses lawfully granted to it by the government of the Falkland Islands, a self-governing UK Overseas Territory, and with the full and ongoing support of the UK government.
“The partnership believes that the recent developments are not expected to have a material effect on the development activities of the Sea Lion Project, including the timetable for completion of the project’s development.”
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