The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, is proposing a more diplomatic route to settle the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
Milei simply explained: “If you’re in conflict, you’re not going to make any progress.”
The topic of the sovereignty of the archipelago has remained highly controversial for decades, with Argentinian forces invading the British Overseas Territory in 1982, claiming the land belonged to them.
Inspired by the recent decision by the UK to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the president argued against an attack on the Falklands, distancing himself from the policies of previous administrations that have often raised the fear of a new invasion.
Milei recently spoke with the Financial Times, pointing out that greater bilateral dialogue is necessary if Argentina wishes to annex the islands, adding: “With the policy of the previous government, the islands would never be Argentine again.”
The president’s calmer stance is inspired by the case of the Chagos Islands, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean that was handed over from the United Kingdom to Mauritius after nearly 40 years of talks and 13 rounds of negotiations.
Milei, who prior to his election in December 2023 had raised concerns for the safety of the Falklands with his pledges to annex the archipelago, sees in this precedent a possible way for the Falkland Islands to be handed to Argentina. “Through this mechanism, we believe that in the long term [the islands] will become Argentine again,” he said.
In earlier conversations with the BBC, Javier Milei acknowledged that the Malvinas Islands, as the Falkland Islands are known in Argentina, are currently “in British hands” and that there is “no instant solution” to recover them.
Melei also stated he wants the ceding of the islands from the UK to Argentina to be peaceful, acknowledging that it could take “decades”, making it clear the country “does not seek conflict”.
Milei said, “We will not renounce our sovereignty,” insisting this “will take time” and involve “long-term negotiation.”
Speaking about the British Government, he added: “They may not want to negotiate today. They may want to do so later. Many positions have changed over time.”
