Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is about to go to the Falkland Islands – amid renewed calls in Argentina for talks on their future.
The go to – the primary by a cupboard minister since 2016 – is being touted as a high-profile demonstration that the distant South Atlantic archipelago stays a “valued part of the British family”.
It comes after Argentina‘s new president, Javier Milei, thrust his nation’s long-running declare over the British abroad territory again into the highlight by calling for the islands to be handed over to Buenos Aires.
However, Lord Cameron mentioned their sovereignty was “not… up for discussion” whereas islanders wished to be British.
“The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion,” he mentioned in a press release forward of the journey.
“The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built.
“The islands are a thriving economic system, the place in addition to farming and fishing, there’s a precedence given to conservation and sustainability.”
Mr Milei, a radical libertarian, swept into workplace in December off the again of an election marketing campaign promising wholesale modifications to Argentina’s state and economic system.
He additionally pledged the nation would acquire sovereignty over the islands – referred to as Islas Malvinas by Argentines – and has steered the UK ought to method the problem in the same strategy to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
That settlement, nevertheless, adopted the top of a 99-year lease.
The Falklands have been beneath British sovereignty since 1833, barring the three-month occupation by Argentina in 1982, which resulted within the Falklands War, during which 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel died.
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of islanders voted to retain their standing as a UK abroad territory, one thing usually cited by British politicians to dismiss Argentina’s declare.
Last month, Lord Cameron met with Mr Milei on the World Economic Forum in Davos, the place the controversy over the islands was mentioned.
Following the assembly, the Foreign Office mentioned the pair had a “warm and cordial meeting” and on the problem of the Falklands “they would agree to disagree, and do so politely”.
On his go to, Lord Cameron pays his respects to the British forces who served and people who misplaced their lives throughout the battle in 1982 and thank the UK personnel based mostly on the islands in the present day.
Read extra:
Who is Argentina’s new president?
EU backs down after calling Falklands by Argentine title
Lord Cameron will meet leaders of the Falkland Islands authorities throughout a go to to the capital Stanley and different websites across the abroad territory.
He may even go to environmental initiatives and see a few of the penguins that rely upon the very important island habitats.
He is predicted to journey to the Falklands earlier than visiting Paraguay – the primary time a British overseas secretary has travelled to the South American nation – earlier than travelling to a gathering with G20 counterparts in Brazil.
Source: information.sky.com”