Falkland Islands are 'undoubtedly' British and 'non-negotiable', says Grant Shapps

The Union Flag flies over the British War Cemetery in San Carlos, Falkland Islands. Photo: Peter Hazell/Getty Images

It is «non-negotiable and indisputable» that the Falkland Islands belong to Britain, Grant Shapps insisted following the Argentine president-elect's demands for diplomatic talks.

Mr Shapps , the defense minister, noted that the government had sent a new Royal Navy ship back to the islands, which were captured by Argentina in 1982 before they were liberated by British forces.

Javier Miley, who won a landslide election victory in Argentina on Sunday, has previously asserted his country's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, arguing in the final televised debate of the campaign that «every effort» must be made to reclaim the territory.

But in a tweet confirming the Falkland Islands' status as a British overseas territory, Mr Shapps said: 

The Falkland Islands belong to Great Britain. This is non-negotiable and undeniable 🇬🇧🇫🇰

99.8% of islanders voted to remain British and we will always defend their right to self determination and UK sovereignty and now @HMS_Forth is back to defend islands. https://t.co/9Hlj2FegpF

— Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) November 21, 2023

Mr Shapps was referring to the result of a 2013 referendum in which only three of the 1,516 islanders refused to remain an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed on Monday that HMS Royal Navy Patrol Ship HMS Medway completed a nine-month stay in the Falkland Islands and transferred patrol duties back to her sister ship HMS Forth.

HMS Forth, which has spent much of this year in Gibraltar, plays a central role in the mission to the Falkland Islands, which the Ministry of Defense said was focused on «reassuring and supporting the island community».

During the final televised debate Of the campaign, Mr Miley said: “What am I proposing? Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands is non-negotiable. The Malvinas Islands are Argentine.

“Now we need to see how we get them back. Obviously, the option of war is not a solution. We had a war that we lost, and now we will have to make every effort to return the islands through diplomatic channels.»

Mr Miley, who won a landslide victory in Argentina's elections on Sunday, earlier claimed his country's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Photo: LUIS ROBAIO/AFP via Getty Images

Milay's hard-line stance is nonetheless less hostile than that of Alberto Fernandez, his leftist predecessor, who called for immediate negotiations.

Mr. Miley insisted that any transfer of power must be peaceful and considered it a lower priority than returning the country to economic growth.

The libertarian economist also argued on the campaign trail: “What we What we propose is to move towards a solution similar to the one England had with China on the Hong Kong issue, and that in this context the position of the people living on the islands cannot be ignored.”

In July, Rishi Sunak criticized the European Union for its «deplorable choice of words» after the bloc called the Falkland Islands the Malvinas Islands, a name Argentina says is correct.

Mr Sunak's spokesman said at the time: «Look, According to Prime Minister, it would be completely unacceptable for the EU to question the right of Falkland Islanders to decide their own future. Let's be clear: the Falkland Islanders are British.

“The EU has now rightly clarified that their position on the Falkland Islands has not changed following their regrettable choice of words. We will continue to defend the Falkland Islands' right to resolve.»