Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is set to visit the Falkland Islands, amid renewed calls in Argentina for talks on their future.
This week's visit – the first by a government minister since 2016 – is being described as evidence that the remote South Atlantic archipelago remains “an important part of the British family”.
And yet comes Argentinathe new president, Javier MileyHe brought his country's claim to British overseas territories back into the spotlight by calling for the islands to be handed over to Buenos Aires.
but, Lord Cameron They said their sovereignty was “not…up for discussion” while the islanders wished to become British.
“the Falkland Islands He said in a statement before the trip: “They are an important part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.”
“The people of the Falkland Islands should be proud of the modern and prosperous society they have built.
“The islands have a thriving economy and, in addition to agriculture and fishing, there is priority given to conservation and sustainability.”
An aerial view of Port Stanley
Miley, a radical liberal, took office last December on the back of an election campaign promising comprehensive changes to the state and economy in Argentina.
He also pledged that the country would gain sovereignty over the islands – known to Argentina as the Malvinas Islands – and suggested the UK should approach the issue in a similar way to the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
But this agreement came after the end of a 99-year lease.
The Falkland Islands have been under British sovereignty since 1833, except for a three-month Argentine occupation in 1982, which led to the Falklands War, in which 255 British soldiers, three islanders and 649 Argentine soldiers were killed.
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of the islanders voted to retain their status as a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, a matter often cited by British politicians to reject Argentina's claim.
Argentine President Javier Miley. Photo: Reuters
Last month, Lord Cameron met Miley at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the controversy over the islands was discussed.
Following the meeting, the Foreign Office said the two men had a “warm and friendly meeting” and on the Falkland Islands issue “they will agree to disagree, and they will do so politely.”
During his visit, Lord Cameron will pay his respects to the British forces who served in the islands and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982, and will also thank UK personnel stationed in the islands today.
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Lord Cameron will meet Falkland Islands government leaders during a visit to the capital, Stanley, and other locations throughout the overseas territory.
He will also visit environmental projects and see some of the penguins that depend on the island's vital habitats.
He is expected to travel to the Falkland Islands before visiting Paraguay – the first time a British foreign minister has traveled to the South American country – before traveling to a meeting with his G20 counterparts in Brazil.
