Argentina has been accused of placing the Falklands in an ‘economic stranglehold’ after it ripped up a key agreement and demanded fresh talks on the islands’ sovereignty.
The move signals a sharp deterioration in relations between Buenos Aires and London, and comes as islanders mark the anniversary of a referendum vote to remain British.
Politicians on the islands have told GB News the Argentinian government is seeking to deflect attention from its own economic crisis.
Across the Falklands, islanders are marking a decade since they voted by 99.8 per cent to remain a UK Overseas Territory.
In 2016, Buenos Aires and London effectively agreed to disagree over the Falkland Islands’ sovereignty
GB News
Although overseen by international observers, the results of that referendum have never been recognised by the Argentinian government.
In 2016, Buenos Aires and London effectively agreed to disagree over the islands’ sovereignty, and signed up to a pact aimed at improving economic, environmental and social relations.
But this week, all that ended, as the Argentinians ripped up the agreement, and demanded fresh talks over the future of the Falklands.
In response, the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The Falklands are British.
“Islanders have the right to decide their own future. They have chosen to remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.”
The agreement pledged to “improve co-operation on South-Atlantic issues of mutual interest.”
The UK’s minister for the Americas David Rutley said it was a “disappointing decision” after the move to pull out of the agreement happened as he paid what he claimed was a “constructive visiit” to Buenos Aires.
The minister said: “Argentina has chosen to step away from an agreement that has brought comfort to the families of those who died in the 1982 conflict.”
Roger Spink, a member of the Legislative Assembly for the Falkland Islands accused Argentina of effectively trying to place an “economic stranglehold around the islands”.
“We're disappointed but we're not surprised,” he said.
“Argentina over the years, when they have difficulties in their own economy, the Falklands becomes an issue that they wish to put onto the front pages of their newspapers.
“The agreement had benefits to both Argentina and the Falklands. The flights that we had started up to Sao Paulo were stopping in Cordoba, which allowed Argentinian citizens wishing to visit the graves of their loved ones in the islands to come from Cordova directly into the Falklands. That was scrapped.”
Michael Betts, deputy representative of the Falklands Government in London said the move by the government in Buenos Aires was a significant setback.
“It's really unfortunate that this key agreement has ended,” he said.
“It has impacted the Falklands because we can't share fisheries data with Argentina.
Michael Betts, deputy representative of the Falklands Government in London said the move by Buenos Aires was a significant setback
GB News
“We've lost a flight to Sao Paulo which is our second link to South America.
“And the agreement benefited Argentina, because it helped identify the dead from the war. So I don't really think anyone comes out better from this agreement coming to an end.”
With more than a thousand British military personnel, typhoon fighters and a Royal Navy presence, the Falklands is far better defended now than before the war in 1982.
No one on the islands believes Argentina is interested, or has the capability, to threaten the Falklands militarily.
But for the time being, it seems determined to ramp-up the diplomatic and economic pressure, despite the express wish of Falklands islanders.
