Nigel Farage defies Donald Trump as he says the Falklands will 'always' be British

George Bunn
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:10:47 +0000

Nigel Farage has defied Donald Trump and declared that the Falkland Islands "are and will always be British," positioning himself against the US President's reported plans to reconsider American support for British sovereignty over the territory.

The Reform UK leader announced he intends to raise the issue directly with Argentine President Javier Milei during a planned visit later this year.

Mr Farage 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."

He added that while the message would be conveyed to Washington, he would also tell President Milei personally: "Look, we want great relations with your country but this is non-negotiable."

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

On top of his firm stance on the Falklands, Mr Farage has expressed growing unease about the American President's decision-making.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Reform UK leader admitted he was "starting to worry slightly" about President Trump's judgement amid escalating tensions between London and Washington over the Middle East conflict.

"I do, as a friend, worry slightly about his judgment on this, yes. I do," the Clacton MP said, while acknowledging the president was "not everyone's cup of tea".

He praised President Trump's policies on economic matters and border security, but voiced concern about the direction of his foreign policy.

Mr Farage added: "It will be a terribly sad end to an amazing political career if the man that was always anti-war in the end gets (brought) down by this I struggle to understand it."

The Reform leader previously suggested Mr Trump had received poor advice before launching military action against Iran.

The controversy stems from an internal Pentagon email which outlined potential measures to punish Nato allies who declined to participate in US-Israeli military strikes against Iran.

The confidential memo suggested Washington could reassess its diplomatic backing for what it termed British "imperial possessions," including the Falklands.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Nigel Farage 'starting to worry slightly' about Donald Trump’s judgement on Iran

Labour MPs plan mega rebellion as they aim to remove Keir Starmer in just WEEKS

Javier Milei says Buenos Aires is 'doing everything possible' to capture Falklands for Argentina

Sir Keir Starmer's government has refused to grant the United States unrestricted access to British military bases for offensive operations against Tehran.

Limited authorisation was eventually given for facilities such as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia to support defensive missions targeting Iranian missile installations threatening the Strait of Hormuz, though only after Iran began retaliatory strikes.

The Pentagon has not confirmed the email's existence, but a spokesman told the BBC it would ensure the President had "credible options" to address allies who were "a paper tiger."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the American position as "absolute nonsense," comparing it to President Trump's earlier threats regarding Greenland.

"The Falkland Islands are British, they have been for a very long time. The sovereignty is British sovereignty," she told broadcasters.

Downing Street maintained that Britain's position would not shift, with a spokesman emphasising that sovereignty rests with the UK and self-determination remains paramount.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the government's commitment to the islands was "unwavering."

The Falkland Islands Government expressed complete confidence in Westminster's pledge to defend their right to self-determination, noting this principle is enshrined in the UN Charter.

In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of the territory's 1,650 eligible voters chose to remain a British Overseas Territory, with turnout exceeding 92 per cent.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for King Charles's state visit to Washington, scheduled for Monday, to be cancelled.