Argentina Protests UK Vessel's Presence in Territorial Waters, Citing Increased Tensions

Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally protested to the United Kingdom over the presence of the HMS Medway vessel in Argentine territorial waters, calling the action a violation of bilateral agreements and a deepening of tensions. The ministry announced on Wednesday that it had presented a formal note of protest to the British Embassy on July 13, expressing "the strongest rejection of the movements of the HMS Medway vessel," which it described as "illegally deployed" in the Falkland Islands.

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the strongest rejection of the realization of the movements of the HMS Medway, which was illegally deployed in the Malvinas Islands and for which Argentina was not duly notified in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and declarations.

Argentina stated it was not properly notified of these movements, which involved the vessel transiting through Argentine territorial waters, in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and declarations. The protest was made under the instruction of Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno. While lodged on July 13, the announcement was made Wednesday evening, shortly after Argentina's 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 World Cup semifinals.

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This unilateral action constitutes a violation of the commitments assumed by both Governments in the Joint Declaration of September 25, 1991.

The Foreign Ministry warned that this "unilateral action constitutes a violation of the commitments assumed by both governments in the Joint Declaration of September 25, 1991." This declaration, it noted, amends previous joint declarations and specifically addresses "confidence-building measures." The ministry asserted that the vessel's movements contravene bilateral commitments on confidence-building measures in the military sphere.

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The Argentine government firmly rejects this British military incursion into spaces under Argentine jurisdiction, which adds to a sustained policy of unilateral acts incompatible with United Nations resolutions and with the duty of both parties to refrain from altering the situation while the sovereignty dispute remains pending resolution.

Argentina firmly rejects this British military incursion into areas under Argentine jurisdiction, viewing it as part of a sustained policy of unilateral acts incompatible with United Nations resolutions. The government emphasized that such actions disregard the repeated mandate of the international community and hinder Argentina's efforts towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands. The ministry concluded that these actions, far from fostering trust, "deepen tensions in the South Atlantic."

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Far from generating the conditions of trust and understanding that a mature bilateral relationship demands, these actions deepen tensions in the South Atlantic, disregard the repeated mandate of the international community and hinder Argentine efforts to move towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to the controversy.