Burnham vows to keep Falklands after Argentinian ‘sabre-rattling’
Andy Burnham has affirmed that he will do “whatever it takes” to keep the Falklands Islands a British territory following claims of “sabre-rattling” by Argentina.
Giving a speech in the Commons on Monday, the prime minister said he had raised the sovereignty issue with US president Donald Trump as well as the “clear and declared will of the islanders to remain British”.
“I emphasise this point in my speech to the [UN] General Assembly, and that we will also always do whatever it takes to uphold their will,” he added.
On Monday, Mr Burnham also opened an investigation into reports of harassment against Falklands islanders after alleged intimidation from Argentina.
Last month Argentina’s president Javier Milei claimed the Falkland Islands were “under illegal foreign occupation” by the UK. He also threatened “to take matters into our own hands” as he spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York.
He said the islanders’ self-determination “does not apply in this case, since the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute”.
Speaking to GB News over the weekend, Stacy Bragger, acting chair of the Falkland Islands legislative assembly, accused Argentina of trying undermine the local economy.
"This is nothing new for us, sadly. We're used to Argentina trying to undermine our economy, so Milei obviously has elections coming up, so he's using the Falklands issue unfortunately again,” he told the outlet on Friday.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the government was looking into the reports, calling any attempts at intimidation “completely unacceptable” as he reiterated that support for the Falkland Islanders and their right to determine their own future “remained unwavering.”
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservatives would “reinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories”, amid what he described as Argentinian “sabre-rattling over the Falklands”.
He said of his plan for a missile defence system known as Britannia Shield: “It would be for the defence of the United Kingdom but we must also stand by our overseas territories.
“With our base on Cyprus attacked and Argentina sabre-rattling over the Falklands, I make this promise – when we procure those air defence systems for our nation, we will always, in parallel, reinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories.”
Mr Milei last month claimed the Falkland Islands were “under illegal foreign occupation” by the UK.
He also threatened “to take matters into our own hands” as he spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York.
He said the islanders’ self-determination “does not apply in this case, since the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute”.
The UK’s UN delegation in response said: “The Falkland Islanders have as much right to determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development as any other peoples.”