Milei says 'winds of change' favour Argentina in Falklands row

Javier Milei says Argentina may be catching a favorable wind in its long-running dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands, or Las Malvinas as Argentines call them. In a televised address, the president pointed to Washington’s willingness to review its neutrality as a possible turning point.

Argentina and Britain fought a 10-week war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982. The issue remains deeply emotional in Argentina, although the islanders voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain British. The dispute returned to the headlines after Donald Trump threatened to intervene and a British-Israeli oil project near the islands triggered anger in Buenos Aires.

“

There are winds of change in the world that are favorable to our claim.

Milei said Argentina would not “stand idly by” while the project proceeds. He announced sanctions against companies involved in oil extraction in what he called Argentine territory under British occupation. He also said companies working on Falkland Islands projects without the Argentine government’s approval would be barred from operating in Argentine territory.

“

If we allow it, we will be creating an incentive for the British government to deepen the occupation of the islands and the exploitation of our resources.

Argentine war veterans and environmental lawyers filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to halt the project, promoted by Britain’s Rockhopper and Israel’s Navitas. Milei said the project violated a United Nations resolution calling on both sides to avoid unilateral action. He warned that allowing the project would encourage Britain to deepen its control of the islands and exploit their resources.

Trump’s review of U.S. policy came amid reports that Washington was threatening to oppose Britain’s sovereignty unless London increased defense spending. Trump criticized Britain’s military support for the war in Iran in an interview with GB News and declined to say whether he would support Britain in a new dispute with Argentina. Argentine analyst Tomas Mugica said the Falklands issue served Trump’s effort to pressure Britain over NATO funding and cooperation in the Iran war. Milei’s approval ratings have fallen to about 34 percent as he pursues austerity and deregulation, with a re-election bid just over a year away.

“

The Falklands issue serves Trump's purpose of pressuring the United Kingdom to comply with his demands regarding NATO funding and cooperation in the war in Iran.