Falkland Islanders told to 'GO BACK TO ENGLAND' in major escalation by Argentina

Ed Griffiths
Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:05:14 +0000

Falkland Islanders have been told to return to England after Argentina's vice-president renewed the country's claim to the British overseas territory.

A Pentagon memo leaked last week sparked an international uproar after plans were drawn up for the US to pull support for UK sovereignty as punishment for its lacklustre response to Iran.

The email outlines potential US responses to what it sees as inadequate support from Nato allies in the Iran conflict, including a reassessment of its stance on the Falkland Islands.

The memo expresses frustration over some allies’ reluctance to join the war or grant the US access to airbases and overflight rights (ABO) for Operation Fury, the paused US-Israeli offensive against Iran.

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Now Argentina has launched a fresh bid to take over the Falkland Islands after its President, Javier Milei, referred to Britain's overseas territory as "illegally occupied".

Taking to social media today, the country's vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, added her voice, saying: "Today, more than ever, the Malvinas [Falklands] are Argentine."

She insisted discussions about the islands' future must take place exclusively between the British and Argentine Governments, citing legal, historical and geographical justifications for Buenos Aires's claim.

Ms Villarruel wrote: "The Kelpers [Falklanders] are English people who live in Argentine territory; they are not part of the discussion. If they feel English, they should go back to the thousands of miles away where their country is."

The term "Kelpers" refers to the abundant seaweed found around the archipelago.

The inflammatory remarks come amid heightened tensions following Donald Trump's threat to reassess Washington's official stance on the islands, a move prompted by Britain's refusal to participate in his military campaign against Iran.

President Javier Milei, a close Trump ally, declared last week that "the Malvinas were, are and will always be Argentine."

Argentina's renewed push for sovereignty talks received a significant boost from the potential shift in American policy, with leaked Pentagon emails suggesting the US position was under active review.

Pablo Quirno, Argentina's foreign minister, has called for an end to what he described as British "colonialism" and demanded fresh bilateral negotiations to reach a "peaceful and definitive solution" to the long-running territorial dispute.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper responded by declaring Britain's commitment to the Falklands "unwavering".

Following Mr Milei's comments, she said: "The Falkland Islands are British sovereignty rests with the UK, self-determination rests with the islanders. We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falkland Islands. It's long-standing. It's unchanged."

The Falklands Government criticised the Trump administration over the leaked Pentagon communications and pointed to the 2013 independence referendum, in which 99.8 per cent of islanders voted to maintain their status as a British Overseas Territory.

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Buenos Aires has dismissed that vote as illegitimate, previously alleging Britain had planted voters on the islands.

The territory's Government said: "The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination."

Reports emerged last week that Washington had pressured the Foreign Office to accept a deal allowing the supply of American F-16 fighter jets to Argentina.

Buenos Aires received a consignment of the American-made aircraft from Denmark late last year, marking an unusual instance of Western nations arming the South American country.

Britain maintains a strict prohibition on weapons exports to Argentina due to the competing territorial claims, though it held no formal veto over the Danish transfer.

British officials were informed "in no uncertain terms" that the arrangement would proceed regardless, according to reports.

Nigel Farage announced plans to visit Argentina this autumn to inform Mr Milei that British sovereignty over the islands remains "non-negotiable".

The 1982 conflict resulted in 255 British military deaths, three islander casualties and 649 Argentine fatalities.