England (DT) – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly defended Britain’s position on the Falkland Islands after Argentina’s government vowed to retake the disputed territory. In a heated diplomatic exchange, Buenos Aires renewed its claim over the islands, sparking tensions between the two nations more than four decades after the Falklands War.
Speaking in Parliament, Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, stating, “The Falkland Islands are British, and their people have the right to self-determination. We will not waver in our duty to protect them.”
RELATED NEWS : Netherlands returns more than 280 historical artifacts to Indonesia
The Prime Minister has defended a new agreement with Mauritius regarding the remote Chagos Archipelago, stating that it will secure the “single most important goal” of protecting the long-term future of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain.
However, critics have raised concerns that the deal could open the door for China to establish a military presence in the Indian Ocean, potentially shifting the strategic balance in the region. Additionally, there are growing worries about the implications for the future of other UK overseas territories, with some suggesting that this agreement may set a risky precedent.
The debate over the agreement has sparked intense political discussion, with supporters focusing on the strategic importance of maintaining US-UK defense operations on Diego Garcia, while opponents warn of potential long-term risks to regional stability.
Office of Her Excellency the Governor, supporting the people of the Falkland Islands post on X on 3 October : Statement to the #Falklands by Her Excellency the Governor regarding the political agreement between the UK and Mauritius;
US President Joe Biden welcomed the “historic” agreement and said it secures the “effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century”.
Argentina’s foreign minister, Diana Mondino, also welcomed the decision by the UK Government towards ending “outdated practices”
“Mauritius is one of only two countries in Africa that’s not a member of China’s Belt and Road (Initiative). So this notion that we’ve somehow given the Chagos Islands to an ally of China is rubbish, and anyway the negotiations were started by the previous Tory government.”
Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for the military base.
The expulsions are regarded as one of the most shameful parts of Britain’s modern colonial history and Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands.
The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, previously ruled the UK’s administration of the territory was “unlawful” and must end.
Talks between the UK and Mauritius to reach an agreement began under the previous Conservative government in 2022.
SOURCE : INDEPENDENT UK | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |