U.S. Secretary Kerry Refuses to Take Sides Over Falklands Dispute

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed his country’s position of neutrality regarding Britain and Argentina ‘s competing sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands.

“Our position on the Falklands has not changed. The United States recognizes de facto UK administration of the islands but takes no position on the question of parties’ sovereignty claims thereto,” said Kerry on Monday after holding discussions with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Kerry added that he neither he nor U.S. President Barack Obama would “comment” on a referendum that will take place on the disputed islands next month.  It’s expected that islanders will overwhelmingly choose a resolution supporting the Falklands’ political status as a British colony.

Kerry also condemned the Syrian government for the recent bombing of civilian areas in Aleppo and warned that it would be “simply unacceptable” for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.  Yet it has been his declarations over the Falklands that has not sat well with some British press outlets. For instance, a writer for one of The Telegraph’s blogs accused the White House of caring “more about appeasing a third-rate, declining socialist regime in Latin America than standing with America’s closest friend and ally”.


The Argentine government has yet to comment over Kerry’s visit to Britain or his stance on the Falklands.  But on Monday, Argentine Foreign Relations secretary Eduardo Zuain accused Britain of breaking international treaties:

Argentina accused the UK of transporting nuclear armoury in submarines to the Malvinas Islands, violating the international treaties that set the zone as nuclear-free.

"We currently are in an unstable stage of the implementation of the Tlatelolco treaty, which bans the nuclear armoury in Latin America and Caribbean. This is being defied by the United Kingdom," Eduardo Zuain, Argentina's Foreign Relations secretary, stated before the Disarming Conference of the United Nations…

Zuain also criticized the fact that the Malvinas are among the most militarized territories in the world, with more than 1,500 British soldiers and 3,000 citizens.

Video Source– YouTube via user mailtube24x7

Online Sources – LAHT, The Telegraph, Voice of America, Buenos Aires Herald