James Cleverley spoke at the Conservative Party conference on Sunday evening. Photo: Holly Adams/Bloomberg
James Cleverley said he would visit the Falkland Islands to assert British control over them after a «squabble» with the Argentine government.
The Foreign Secretary told the audience at a conference drinks reception The Conservative Party in Manchester on Sunday evening said it would be «absolutely clear» that Britain supports the islands' right to self-determination.
The UK government has been embroiled in a new dispute with Argentina since March when Buenos Aires pulled out of a cooperation agreement. with Britain and called for talks between the two countries over the Falkland Islands.
The row has also heightened tensions between Britain and the European Union, which in July named them the «Islas Malvinas» (their Argentine name), which , according to Cleverly, “will increase tensions in the region.”
On Sunday evening the Foreign Secretary said that in response to the «squabble with the Argentine government at the moment» he would visit the islands to clarify the UK's position.
“Some of you may have noticed that as the elections approach «They're trying to flex their muscles a little bit when it comes to the Falkland Islands people,» he said.
“I now believe in the people's right to self-determination and the people of the Falkland Islands have made their position clear and we need to get a Conservative government back to ensure that they and others around the world are protected.”
“And just to make the point at this point, I'm going to take the opportunity to visit the Falkland Islands because I think it's my job to make it clear that only a Conservative government can be trusted to look after the best interests of this country and those other countries in the world that rely on British good governance, including, of course, the wonderful and brave people of Ukraine, who are currently defending themselves from Russian aggression.»
Mr. Cleverly would be Mr. Cleverly. the first British cabinet minister to visit the archipelago since 2016, when then Defense Secretary Michael Fallon flew there to argue for the islanders' «right to determine their own future.»
Despite calls from Argentina to hand over the islands, a 2013 referendum 99.8% of voters were in favor of remaining a British overseas territory.
The previous visit by then Foreign Secretary Hugo Swire took place in 2014. prompted angry comments and allegations of «highhandedness» on the part of the Argentine government.
Princess Anne visited the country last year to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Quarrel over In recent years For months, the situation in the Falkland Islands has worsened ahead of the elections in Argentina, which will take place on October 22.
In March, the country ended a cooperation agreement with Britain and said relations between the two countries would remain strained as long as Britain refused to discuss its sovereignty over the islands.
Santiago Cafiero, Argentine Foreign Minister Secretary of State said Falklands War 1982 year «has not changed the nature of the dispute between both countries, which is still awaiting negotiations and resolution.»
In July, Cleverley criticized the EU for its decision to give the islands the Argentine name in a joint European communiqué that did not include Britain.
He reportedly sent a message to Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, warning that mentioning the islands would «present Argentina as supporting their cause, require us to retaliate and increase tensions in the region.»
The Foreign Office said , which raised concerns about the declaration at both “senior and ministerial levels.”
Brussels, however, supported the Argentine-backed declaration that both the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean support «the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful resolution of disputes» over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
Argentina called the declaration a «diplomatic triumph» and Mr Cafiero said that Buenos Aires expects to “deepen dialogue with the European Union in relation to the Malvinas issue.”
European officials said Britain was not in a position to challenge its wording because it was no longer an EU member state.
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