Almost 30 years since Britain fought off Argentina’s invasion of the Falklands, the Prime Minister reassured the islanders that they would be allowed to decide their own destiny.
“Let me be absolutely clear,” he said in a radio address. “We will always maintain our commitment to you on any question of sovereignty.
“Your right to self-determination is the cornerstone of our policy. We will never negotiate on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless you, the Falkland Islanders, so wish. No democracy could ever do otherwise.”
Tensions with Argentina have resurfaced since a British company claims to have found large quantities of oil in the sea surrounding the islands.
Last week Argentina issued a new threat that it will put up an “eternal fight” for the islands, as Brazil and Uruguay also agreed to blockade ships carrying the “illegal” Falklands flag.
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Argentina has also taken offence that the Duke of Cambridge is set to start a posting in the remote Falklands early next year.
Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant with the RAF, will fly search and rescue helicopter missions.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry interpreted this as a “provocative act” just before the islands are due to commemorate three decades since the Falklands War in April.
Neither country is in as good a position to fight a war now as they were 30 years ago. However, since Britain no longer has any aircraft carriers, Argentina may believe that it has the edge.
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