MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' right to self determination reaffirmed in UK's defense and security review

PM Cameron addressing Parliament announcing extra funds for defense equipment

The British government reaffirmed its support for the Falkland Islands and its right to self determination as part of the recently announced Strategic Defense and Security review 2015, which pledges an extra increase £12bn of spending on defense equipment - part of London's £178bn overall defense equipment and support budget during the next decade.

 The review was presented to Parliament earlier this week by Prime Minister David Cameron in a 98 pages, seven chapters document, as part of UK's efforts to combat terrorism following the deadly attacks in Paris, Lebanon, Sinai, attributed to IS.

The specific section on Overseas Territories says UK will continue to work closely with the Falkland Islanders to defend their right to self determination, faced with an unjustified claim of ownership from Argentina.

“We will retain a deterrence posture, with sufficient military forces in the region including warships, army units and Typhoon aircraft, reads point 4.18. Follows the extract from the review.

Our Overseas Territories

4.17 Our 14 Overseas Territories retain a constitutional link with the UK. Our relationship, while rooted in centuries of shared history, is a modern one, based on mutual benefits and responsibilities. We take our responsibilities seriously and will continue to support these communities and their right to safety, security and self-determination.

4.18 We will continue to work closely with the Falkland Islanders to defend their right to self-determination, which is enshrined in the Charter of the UN. They face an unjustified claim of ownership from Argentina. We judge the risk of a military attack to be low, but we will retain a deterrence posture, with sufficient military forces in the region, including Royal Navy warships, Army units and RAF Typhoon aircraft. We will invest up to £300 million over the next 10 years to enhance operational communications, renew the existing air defense system and upgrade infrastructure.

4.19 Some of our Overseas Territories face threats from transnational crimes such as illegal migration, narcotics smuggling, money laundering and illegal fishing. In the Caribbean in particular, we are working with our Overseas Territories to improve security and law enforcement. There are also risks from climate change, natural disasters and hostile foreign activity. We will continue to build our Overseas Territories’ resilience, crisis preparedness and response.

4.20 We have increased the manning of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron and improved our ability to monitor Gibraltar’s territorial waters. We will continue to challenge all incursions. In Cyprus, two Army infantry battalions contribute to the security of the Sovereign Base Areas and we are increasing manning levels at RAF Akrotiri airfield to provide better support to ongoing operations against ISIL and in the wider region. This will also enable us to evacuate British nationals or to conduct hostage rescue missions more quickly.

Despite the strong commitment in the UK review it must be said that the incoming Argentine government has anticipated it wants to have good, normal relations with all countries.

More specifically with the UK, Ambassador Fulvio Pompeo a foreign affairs expert very close to incoming president Mauricio Macri said in a recent interview with UK media that ”we must re-establish the relation that has been frozen in recent years as a result of the conflict“.

Pompeo added that relations with UK ”are very important for us and we will work to build dialogue areas“, and ”we are talking of two countries that have much in common such environment, scientific innovation and culture issues“.

Pompeo finally said that ”we don't need a Malvinas affairs minister (Daniel Filmus), we have a foreign affairs minister”.