The Falklands War may have ended in 1982 yet Argentina and the U.K. continue to be at odds over the sovereignty of that island chain.Last year the Argentine government called for talks over the future rule of the islands located off that country’s coast. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown subsequently denied that requested. In December British armed forces participated in war exercises near the Falklands, a move that was later criticized by Argentine officials. In turn, British authorities were none too pleased that Argentina’s legislature passed a new law “recognizing” that the Falklands as an Argentine province.
The latest salvo over the Falklands developed this month over British plans to explore for energy around the islands. Faced with the possibility of an “oil rush” near the Falklands, the Argentine government has stepped up its pressure to block what it feels is a violation of its territory:
Argentina said on Tuesday that boats sailing between it and the British-ruled Falkland Islands will need a government permit, deepening a row over oil exploration in the disputed archipelago…The British Foreign Office replied by noting that the decree “does not affect Falkland Islands territorial waters which are controlled by the island authorities."
Any boat that wants to travel between ports on the Argentine mainland to the Islas Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ... must first ask for permission from the Argentine government," (Cabinet Chief Anibal) Fernandez said.
He said a presidential decree would force all ships bound for the islands or traveling through waters claimed by Argentina to secure the new permit.
Odds are very slim that both countries would reengage in conflict over the Falklands. Old wounds take time to heal, however, and hopefully diplomatic efforts can keep tensions from boiling over.
Image- El Informante (Sign reads “The Malvinas (Falklands) are Argentines.”)
Online Sources- BBC News, UPI, Reuters, Wikipedia
Anybody noticed that SPAIN has recently, and officially, stated that, if asked, SPAIN will not support the Argentine position on the Falkland Islands.
ReplyDeleteSo, ARGENTINA, your supposed mother country has spoken.
This destroys your entire position. Give up. You may have the whole of South America on your side, until the missiles start. You may have a vacillating, lost United States not knowing where it is going. But the rest of the world either supports the UK position or is "observing" the situation. Your actions could already be described as aggressive or belligerent. Now count the number of countries in the world. Deduct 33. This may represent the number of countries you will alienate or will be "against" you.