UK Reaffirms Firm Stance Regarding Falkland Islands

London (ANTARA) - The United Kingdom has once again asserted that the Falkland Islands are and will remain a British Overseas Territory, ahead of a statement by Argentine President Javier Milelar regarding the islands.

In a statement to Anadolu, the British Foreign Office reaffirmed that, as conveyed by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Uma Kumaran, to Parliament on Wednesday, the UK’s position regarding the Falkland Islands “has long been and remains unchanged.”

“The islands are and will remain a British Overseas Territory, in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands,” said a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office.

The spokesperson added that the right of the islanders to self-determination is paramount.

This statement comes after President Milei, in a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday, stated that he would deliver a statement regarding Argentina’s “historical claim” to the Falkland Islands during a national broadcast scheduled for Thursday at 21:00 local time.

Milei referred to what he termed the “Malvinas struggle” as the historical claim of the Argentine people, which he believes continues to see their national sovereignty violated.

“We will continue to defend the interests of the Argentine Nation with all our strength, no matter who feels disturbed,” the President said.

Milei’s remarks emerged hours after US President Donald Trump hinted that he was reconsidering US support for British sovereignty over the islands. Such a move could potentially strain the special relationship between the two nations.

“I am always reviewing every position; it is just one of many positions,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

In 2013, the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands voted by an absolute majority to remain a British Overseas Territory. Out of the 1,517 votes cast in the referendum, 1,513 were in favour, while only three were against.