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Malvinas Islands British occupation a 'latent threat' for Uruguay's defense policy

Monday, May 5th 2014 - 21:29 UTC
Full article 156 comments
Minister Fernandez Huidobro, very close to Mujica and a supporter of Argentine foreign policy Minister Fernandez Huidobro, very close to Mujica and a supporter of Argentine foreign policy

The Uruguayan government considers the British occupation of the Malvinas Islands as a 'latent threat' according to a work-paper with basic points of the country's defense policy and which is to be made public this week, some excerpts of which were advanced by the pro-government daily La Republica.

 “The particular situation exposed in the Malvinas Islands, because of the presence of extra-region powers with a negative incidence for the South Atlantic as a zone of peace and cooperation” is one of the 'latent' threats' for Uruguay's national security according to the revelations published in the Sunday edition of Montevideo daily.

The occupation “affects the ocean zone where naturally happen all communications and maritime economic activity of the country”, adds the 42 pages document under the heading of “Uruguay integrated to the region and open to the world”.

Uruguay's Defense minister Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro told the Argentine media that the document is to be released 'next week' adding it has the support of President Jose Mujica.

Mujica and Fernandez Huidobro are very close friends since they started together in the urban guerrilla movement Tupamaros in the sixties, and also shared many years in jail. Once democracy returned to Uruguay, and both benefited of a general amnesty, they both worked in making the former guerrilla movement into a political force.

The second 'latent threat' in the document is “the exacerbation of possible border conflicts between countries of the region”.

The official document adds that “all regional conflicts debilitates the current integration process; triggers arms' races contrary to development' and puts at risk mutual confidence”.

Last week Uruguay's deputy defense minister Jorge Menendez had reaffirmed the Uruguayan government position of 'Argentine sovereignty' over the Falklands/Malvinas islands.

“For us the issue has been long decided. The Malvinas are the Malvinas, that's their name and they are Argentine”, insisted Menendez.

From Buenos Aires Daniel Filmus, head of the Islas Malvinas affairs department at the Foreign ministry said that Uruguay's paper underlines that the “huge UK military presence in the Malvinas is not only of concern to Argentina but to all countries of the region”.

Filmus added that as the document states, “arms' races are contrary to development and put at risk mutual confidence” and again exposes not only support and solidarity for Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas, but also that it is an issue of regional concern”.

Top Comments

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  • Anglotino

    God it's been a long time since I laughed this much.

    Squeezed between giant Brazil and unstable Argentina, both of which have suffered military coups and juntas and both of which are in economic trouble, but it is the UK it is wary of.

    Bahahahaha

    Amateurs.

    May 05th, 2014 - 09:41 pm 0
  • Mr Ed

    Cannabis legalisation is already working its magic.

    BTW Uruguay if this is the sort of murderous communist your population thinks, in aggregate, is suitable for political office, it is your problem not the UK's or the Falkland Islanders'. Don't come crying to us when your neighbours starting Putin-ising the Plate.

    May 05th, 2014 - 09:54 pm 0
  • screenname

    At about 1200 miles away I don't blame Uruguay for being wary of Falklanders and their heavily armed long-range steath aqua-sheep.

    May 05th, 2014 - 10:10 pm 0
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