MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cameron accuses Argentina of ‘colonialism’ and reiterates protection of Falklands

The British PM revealed that the National Security Council held a meeting devoted to the South Atlantic situation

British Prime Minister David Cameron has accused Argentina of “colonialism” over the country's claim to the Falkland Islands. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Cameron vowed to protect the Islands' population and allow them to decide their own future.

“What the Argentines have been saying recently, I would argue, is far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentines want them to do something else”, said PM Cameron.

Argentina's government has been ramping up its rhetoric over the territories in recent months as the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands conflict approaches.

The Prime Minister was speaking 24 hours after the National Security Council (NSC) held a meeting devoted entirely to the situation in the South Atlantic territories which are disputed by Argentina.

Cameron told Parliament he called the summit so he could make sure defences and everything else is “in order“.

”I'm determined we should make sure that our defences and everything else is in order, which is why the National Security Council discussed this issue yesterday.“

Further on Cameron added: ”It's very important we commemorate the Falklands conflict in this year, the 30th anniversary, and we remember all those who served and who fought so hard and those who gave their lives and didn't come home.

“The absolutely vital point is that we are clear that the future of the Falkland Islands is a matter for the people themselves. As long as they want to remain part of the United Kingdom and be British, they should be able to do so.”

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell branded Argentina's actions “wholly deplorable” and urged PM Cameron to “remind Argentina they lost the Falklands War and that it's up to the Falklanders to determine their own future”.

On December 21 last year Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, announced that it would bar ships sailing under the Falkland Islands flag from docking at their ports. But earlier this month, HMS Protector, the Royal Navy's ice patrol vessel currently on a scientific mission to the South Atlantic, called at Montevideo, Uruguay, en route to the Falklands