Argentina Tears Up Falkland Treaty With UK, Calls For ‘Re-Negotiation Of Islands’ Sovereignty’ – But James Cleverly Insists They Are ‘BRITISH’

Argentina broke a cooperation treaty with Britain and called for new talks on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

But in response, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly insisted that “the Falklands are British”.

The Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a short but brutal war following the 1982 invasion of Argentina. Britain drove out the invaders after sending in a naval fleet.

In 2016, the two sides agreed to dispute sovereignty but cooperate on energy, shipping and fisheries, as well as identifying the remains of unknown Argentine soldiers killed in combat.

But during the G20 talks in New Delhi, Argentina’s foreign minister, Santiago Cafiero, handed over a note that his government would abandon the deal.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (pictured at Thursday’s G20 summit) insisted that “the Falklands are British”.

In a series of tweets, he renewed Argentina’s long-standing calls for negotiations on the islands’ sovereignty at the United Nations in New York.

The Foradori-Duncan Agreement, named after the Argentinian and British signatories Carlos Foradori and Alan Duncan, was signed between the two nations in 2016 when Theresa May was British Prime Minister.

‘The [Foradori-Duncan] The agreement stopped and washed away any discussion of sovereignty,” said Camila Bonetti, spokeswoman for the Malvinas, Antarctic and South Atlantic Secretariat and Malvinas academic researcher. “It has only made concessions in the exploitation of resources on the islands and in our waters.”

After meeting Cafiero at the G20 summit in India, Mr. Cleverly said: “The Falkland Islands are British. Islanders have the right to choose their own future – they have chosen to remain a self-governing British overseas territory.”

In a 2013 referendum on the islands, 99.8 percent voted to remain British.

Argentina’s move was announced just as British Foreign Secretary for America David Rutley visited Buenos Aires for what he called a “productive” meeting.

“Argentina has decided to withdraw from an agreement that brought comfort to the families of those killed in the 1982 conflict,” Rutley tweeted, calling the decision disappointing.

“Argentina, Britain and the Falkland Islands have all benefited from this agreement,” he said.

In his note, Cafiero Cleverly said that Argentina “tried to cooperate on specific issues such as flights, scientific activities in Antarctica, or preservation and conservation of fish stocks” without seeing the same willingness from Britain.

The note also accused Britain of “consistently” carrying out “unilateral acts” which the Argentine Republic duly and timely protested.

“Meanwhile, the UK government has consistently refused to resume sovereignty negotiations, which the UN has repeatedly urged,” she added.

In both countries, last year marked the 40th anniversary of the 1982 conflict, which killed 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three women who lived on the island.

Tensions over the war continue. Last year, an Argentinian song insulting England over the Falklands War became the country’s most popular song on Spotify after a video of Lionel Messi’s team singing it during the World Cup went viral.

Video has emerged of jubilant Argentina players taking their shirts off as they mocked Brazil and England in song after they beat Croatia in the World Cup semi-final. The team won the World Cup and defeated France in the final.

In 1982, the Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentine troops, who were repelled in a ten-week war ordered by Margaret Thatcher. The islands were returned to British control. In the photo: British soldiers raise the flag after the war

The lyrics include a line that reads “Ingleses putos de Malvinas no me olvido,” which roughly translates to “damn English in the Falkland Islands, I don’t forget.”

The word ‘Putos’ to describe the English often has homophobic connotations and can also mean cowards, while the Falkland Islands are referred to by their Spanish name ‘Las Malvinas’.

Argentina still claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, even though it has been a British overseas territory since 1833.

But Argentina claims it acquired the Falkland Islands from Spain in 1816 before Britain asserted its rule.

In 1982, the archipelago was invaded by Argentine forces, defeated in a ten-week war ordered by Margaret Thatcher, and the islands returned to British control.

In fierce fighting on land, in the air and at sea, a total of seven British ships were lost, including Sir Galahad, HMS Coventry and HMS Sheffield, which were hit by an Exocet anti-ship missile.