MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former First Sea Lord suggests sending a nuclear sub to protect the Falklands

Sir Alan West and Falklands’ veteran was captain of HMS Ardent sunk by the Argentines 21 May 1982

A former British First Sea Lord (2002-2006) and Commander during the South Atlantic conflict stated that Britain should respond to the Mercosur bloc’s decision to close their ports to ships that fly the Falklands/Malvinas flag, by sending a nuclear submarine to protect the Islands, the Telegraph newspaper reported Wednesday.

Lord Alan William West, who fought in the Malvinas war as a Commander on the HMS Ardent ship that sunk on May 21, 1982 made harsh comments toward Argentina and the Mercosur bloc for their decision to disallow boats and ships flying the Falklands/Malvinas flag to dock at their ports.

The reaction from the former head of the Royal Navy comes at a sensitive time between Britain and Argentina, as sovereignty issues over the Islands has been at the forefront of political discussions for months now.

Earlier in the day the British Foreign Office (BFO) issued a statement that said: ”We are very concerned by this latest Argentine attempt to isolate the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands people and damage their livelihoods, for which there is no justification.”

The attempt that the Foreign Office was referring to was the action taken by President Cristina Fernández at the Mercosur Summit on Tuesday in Montevideo, where she gathered support of Argentina's neighbouring countries, to not allow ships flying the Falklands/Malvinas flag to stop in their ports.