UK will remain steadfast in defending Falkland Islands

London (ANTARA) - British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on Wednesday (9/9), reaffirmed that the country will defend the Falkland Islands and the rights of its residents.

“We will always respect the right of the Falkland Islands residents to choose to be British citizens,” Burnham told Members of Parliament during the Prime Minister’s weekly Q&A session in the House of Commons.

He emphasised that the stance regarding the islands “will never” change under his administration.

“We will continue to defend them persistently,” he said.

Burnham’s statement follows accusations from the leader of the main opposition party, the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, who accused the government of surrendering British sovereign territories, including the Chagos Islands.

“Other nations are making claims over our sovereign territories. They sense weakness,” said Badenoch.

In response, Burnham stated that the UK would not surrender the Diego Garcia base, located on a remote coral atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and noted that discussions are ongoing with the US regarding the matter.

The UK and Mauritius signed an agreement last year to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius.

The agreement, which ends over two centuries of British rule, serves as compensation for allowing the US and the UK to continue operating the strategic Diego Garcia military base for the next 99 years.

However, the Maldives opposes the deal, which has not yet come into effect and is still awaiting domestic ratification.

Recently, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has requested Burnham to hold talks regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.