MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK Defence denies London press rumours of a Falklands military build-up

Lord West rattled sabers saying a nuke submarine “should stick its mast up”

After statements published by the English newspaper “The Daily Mail,” in which the former head of the Navy, Lord Alan West, said that a nuclear submarine should be sent to the Malvinas Islands, the United Kingdom assured it does not plan to increase the military presence in the Islands.

British Defence Ministry spokesman affirmed on Thursday that London “does not plan an increase of its military equipment or officials”.

“There was no change in our current position,” he continued.

He added that Lord West’s opinion “do not reflect the ministry’s position” and highlighted that “he is no longer linked and does not have access” to the work carried out by the ministry.

Tension between Argentina and the UK mounted since last Wednesday, when Mercosur member-countries decided to ban the access to the ships with a Falklands/Malvinas flag to their ports.

The “Daily Mail” reported that British military chiefs “are dusting off their plans for the defense of the Falklands”. It added that intelligence chiefs have told Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond and the National Security Council that there is currently “no credible military threat” to the Falklands from the Argentine Navy or Air Force.

But a senior official said: 'If there is a threat preparations would be made very quickly”

Daily Mail indicated that sources say a nuclear submarine is also stationed in the South Atlantic, and Lord West demanded that it 'stick its mast up' to deter aggression.

A veteran of the 1982 Falklands conflict as commander of HMS Ardent, sunk by the Argentines” Alan West said that “When one (submarine) is there, it should stick its mast up and make a point of making it clear that it is there. I think the Foreign Office should be tougher. This has been ratcheting up for some time. We've got to make clear that sovereignty is not on the table. The people who live there want to remain British”.