A good 40 years after the Falklands War, Argentina continues to emphasize its claim to the archipelago. Now the British government is demonstrating its claim to sovereignty.
With a visit to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, the British Foreign Secretary assured the residents of the British overseas territory of his government's support. The archipelago, a few hundred kilometers off the tip of South America, has also been claimed by Argentina for decades.
As long as the Falkland Islands want to be part of the “British family”, they are welcome and London will contribute to their protection and defense, said Cameron on Monday evening (local time) in the island's capital Stanley. “And I hope that it stays that way for a very, very long time, possibly forever.”
It was the first visit by a British government member to the Falkland Islands since then Defense Secretary Michael Fallon in 2016. The last foreign minister to travel to the islands was Douglas Hurd in 1994.
Under British administration since 1833
The islands have been under British administration since 1833. Argentina attacked the islands in 1982. According to historians, the then ruling Argentine military junta wanted to use the attack to distract from the increasing domestic political problems. After Argentine forces suffered a series of defeats during the 72-day war, both sides signed a ceasefire. In total, 649 Argentines, 255 Britons and 3 islanders died in the conflict.
During his visit, Cameron laid a wreath at a British military cemetery and at the memorial in Stanley. “In the Falkland Islands I paid my respects to those who lost their lives during the 1982 conflict. We will never forget the incredible commitment of the British Armed Forces,” Cameron wrote on the messaging platform X, formerly Twitter. The former Prime Minister met with residents in the town of Goose Green. Argentine troops held dozens of people prisoner in the community center for weeks during the war.
Visit to a penguin colony
Argentina continues to claim the islands, which they call the Malvinas. In 2013, the islands' residents voted by a large majority to remain part of Great Britain. After the discovery of oil and gas deposits around the islands, the conflict has intensified again.
Cameron met with the new Argentine President Javier Milei on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. In Stanley, the minister said London wanted good relations with Buenos Aires. “But this will never be at the expense of the wishes of Falklanders, who we believe are absolutely paramount on this issue.” Cameron wanted to visit a penguin colony on Tuesday and then travel on to Paraguay.
