Javier Milei hails 'progress' in capturing Falklands as he says 'we are doing everything possible to bring them back into Argentine hands'

George Bunn
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:34:39 +0000

Javier Milei has declared Buenos Aires is pursuing every avenue to reclaim the Falkland Islands for Argentina.

The Argentine leader's comments come as President Donald Trump's administration threatens to reassess Washington's backing for British sovereignty over the South Atlantic territory.

Mr Trump is a close ally of Mr Milei and the White House's relationship with Westminster has soured dramatically amid the ongoing Iran War.

"We are doing everything humanly possible to bring the Falkland Islands back into Argentine hands," Mr Milei stated in an interview with Neura.

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The firebrand Argentinian leader said: "Sovereignty is not negotiable, but it must be done judiciously, it must be done with intelligence."

An internal Pentagon email outlined potential measures to punish Nato allies who refused to participate in US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

The memo suggested Washington could reassess its diplomatic support for European "imperial possessions", including the Falkland Islands.

According to an anonymous US official who described the document to reporters, the note expressed frustration allies had denied the US access, basing and overflight rights for the Iran conflict, calling such cooperation "just the absolute baseline for Nato".

The email, reportedly circulating at the highest levels of the Pentagon, also floated the possibility of suspending Spain from the alliance entirely over its refusal to permit its bases or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.

Downing Street responded firmly to the Pentagon revelations, maintaining British sovereignty over the islands remains beyond dispute.

"We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falkland Islands. It's long standing. It's unchanged," the Prime Minister's spokesman stated.

"Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the Islands' right to self determination is paramount. That's been our consistent position and will remain the case."

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Admiral Lord West, who commanded HMS Ardent during the 1982 Falklands War, condemned the American approach.

"Donald Trump does not understand Nato, alliances in general or alliance leadership," he told The Sun.

"He appears disposed to allow the most successful political-military alliance in modern history to be destroyed. Vladimir Putin could not be happier."

Lord West described the Pentagon's list of potential punishments for Nato countries as "extraordinary on many levels", adding any mention of the Falkland Islands was "an insult to its autonomous, self-reliant and free people".

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage vowed to raise the matter directly with the Argentine president during a planned visit later this year.

He said: "This is utterly non-negotiable. There is no way we're even going to have a debate about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. I shall say 'Look, we want great relations with your country, but this is non-negotiable.'"

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the American position as "absolute nonsense", comparing Mr Trump's remarks to his previous comments regarding Greenland.

"We need to make sure that we back the Falklands. They are British territory," she stated.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey went further, calling for the King's upcoming state visit to Washington to be cancelled, describing Mr Trump as an "unreliable, damaging President" who "cannot keep insulting our country".

Responding to the reports from the US, he said: "This was a then still hypothetical scenario I had concerns about when I was working in the Foreign Office on the UK’s overseas territories."

He suggested converting them from overseas territories to overseas kingdoms, represented by MPs elected to Westminster, similar to the situation in France.

"If this were already the case, His Majesty would be visiting Washington to see Trump this week as King of the Kingdom of the Falklands."

The King and Queen will arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day state visit.