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

Saturday, November 28th 2015 - 06:17 UTC
Full article 34 comments

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. Read full article

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  • gordo1

    Well! That's telling them!

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 07:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    No wonder Hepatia's 25 year prediction never gets closer.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 07:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • golfcronie

    I wonder what the Office of Strategic Co-ordination for National Thinking led by Teresa Parodi thinks about this? Can you believe the Argentines have a think tank for National THINKING.PMSL

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    Kirchner must be apoplectic. Two fingers from her own people about her flagship policy.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 10:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    Just in case Snr. Macri, you confuse British willingness to talk (i.e. 1960s and 1970s, early 80s), with capitulation over the Islander's rights.

    Be smart.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 10:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Caledon

    Correct Pete.
    There should be no dialogue until it's ascertained what will and will not be up for discussion. The UK should demand a pre agenda for any talks.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @6. Let's have a new approach. Dialogue of any description should depend on the agreement of the Islanders and a prior public statement by argieland that its “claim” to the Falkland Islands has always been false. And perhaps the payment of adequate reparations. Reparations to the UK and reparations to the Islanders. About £70 trillion might be enough.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 11:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Caledon

    @7
    Don't have a problem with that.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Frank

    Discussion....
    'We want free access to South American ports, trade, and business with no harrassment. And you want?'

    'your oil and fish... !'.

    'Fucky offy'

    End of meeting.

    Same old same old.

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    out of interest before any talks,
    does Pompeo recognise the rights of the islanders
    and does he recognise their existence,

    after all, there is no point talking to a dummy is there...

    Nov 28th, 2015 - 08:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • diefra

    I don t understand why Cameron don t press UN in order to declare the independence of the falklands its means the necessaries steps to reach this goal. As ever say UN is absolutely resposible of this situation

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 12:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    11 diefra

    That's nonsense.

    You would like that.

    It has nothing to do with Cameron.
    It's up to the Falklanders and the Falklanders alone.

    Currently, and until further notice, they feel more comfortable and secure as a BOT.

    It's a great arrangement with the most modern Navy and Airforce, in the South Atlantic.

    They can become independent whenever they like.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 07:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Philippe

    Honi soit qui mal y pense!

    Philippe

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 08:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    They just don't get it, do they Troy!

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 09:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    It's a great arrangement with the most modern Navy and Airforce, in the South Atlantic and the world.

    and some will never get it.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @11
    “I don t understand why Cameron don t press UN in order to declare the independence ”

    It is up to the Islanders not Cameron. I see your point, if the Islanders press for independence that would be in line with the true objectives of the C24 and something Argentina could not technically disagree with (though in reality they might if Peronism returns to power).

    The advantage for Argentina and South America (if they have the eyes to see) is that while the Islands are linked to the UK they are also attached to the EU, which could be useful to South America, if they took advantage of this.

    I believe independence is possible in the future, but maybe the Islanders might wish to advance their own representation (foreign affairs) abroad for a few years yet, before they cut the umbilical.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 09:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    16 Pete

    With respect, Pete, I think you are giving #11 too much credence.

    Calling for Independence of the Falklands has been a tactic of the Arg Trolls for some time. It is disarming in that it sounds like they are supporting freedom and self-determination. In fact, I think it is an attempt to stir up division amongst the Islanders, and to distance them from the UK. In their minds it may change the sovereignty validity, sever the newly Independent inhabitants from legal ownership, historic rights, and continuity of occupation, along the lines of,“if the Islands are not British, who says they belong to 3,000 people, when there is a longstanding ”unresolved“ historic claim to the Islands?” Would a military force in the Islands then be characterised as UK occupation of an otherwise free people.

    I wouldn't waste much time with such suggestions.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    The auto-punishment for these outcasts is a life wasted in a slowly dying wasteland.

    Could have been spent on healthcare and policing back in imperial central command.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 10:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • diefra

    Dear neighbors : 16 Pete 17 Troy

    In 11) I try to explain that if you have the status as independent nation , as f ex Belice , you will have the recognition from all the nations around the world include Argentina. So this anachronic and unprofitable disputy would end . Then of course you keep the same collaboration that UK give to you,

    I am proponent of the idea of self determination like ( cataluña Spain) ( Scotland UK) or ( Palestine Israel) , of course each one have suitable differences each others by I try to express my idea
    In the XXI century self determination is one of the Human Rights

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 10:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #18
    Wasteland. I can only presume that you are talking about Argentina.
    Your other comment is just drivel...sounds like something out of Star Wars IMPERIAL COMMAND ! You had better watch out or we will send the Death Star against your miserable excuse of a country . Plans are afoot.

    #19
    you will have the recognition from all the nations around the world include Argentina.

    What makes you think for a minute that Argentina would respect this decision.
    All the rhetoric indicates that they would not accept anything other than the incorporation of the Falklands into the Argentine state.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 10:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    thats what it is clyde, imperial central command, or franchise headquarters.
    by the way its not me typing this its my fingers under the authority of my eyeballs.

    any response must be addressed to them, and me separately.
    self determination and that.

    Nov 29th, 2015 - 11:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #21
    I presume then that your brain” is not involved in the process.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Smoke and mirrors is all argies understand.
    it would be like chickens inviting the fox into the hen house for tea.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 12:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    @19 diefra
    “I am proponent of the idea of self determination...”

    1)
    er yeah, but probably not in the Falklanders case, “they are not a people”, right?

    2)
    They have self determined by 98%, that they wish to remain a BOT.
    So, what's the problem?

    @22 Clyde
    ”#21
    I presume then that your (Vestige) brain” is not involved in the process”

    Ha ha ha.. good one Clyde!!

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 02:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • gordo1

    Which of the trolls has assumed the name of diefra?

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 07:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    25 gordo1

    He appeared a few months ago, and then left until now.

    IIRC, he made some odd statements back then as well.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 09:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • diefra

    20 Clyde 15:
    “What makes you think for a minute that Argentina would respect this decision.
    All the rhetoric indicates that they would not accept anything other than the incorporation of the Falklands into the Argentine state.”

    With a normal president that I believe is Macri he should accept , first because he want to improve relationships with UK, 2) Due to Argentina would be isoleted included in S America in its claims. Take into account that Arg claims are based with an arg view of UN resolution . If Falk Is are independent of course this situation replace the resolution that arg based on its claims .

    24 troy tempest

    ”1)
    er yeah, but probably not in the Falklanders case, “they are not a people”, right?

    2)
    They have self determined by 98%, that they wish to remain a BOT.
    So, what's the problem?”

    I support allways your cause, falklanders, scotish or catalanes, should decide yourselves what kind of government wants it doesn t matter if the population is 3.000 or 3 million or 3 billions

    Arg & Chile share 4000 km borders , but finally we can improve our relationships whith democratics governments and solved each disputy . This situation allowed us to make more investments and this situation improve relationships too

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 01:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #27
    I think that decades of stable rule in Argentina will be required before the Falkland Islanders could begin to trust any Argentine government. There would also have to be “no strings attached ”offers of friendship.
    At present, the Islanders have nothing to gain and everything to lose with close ties.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 04:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    27 diefra
    “I support allways your cause, falklanders, scotish or catalanes, should decide yourselves what kind of government wants it doesn t matter if the population is 3.000 or 3 million or 3 billions ”

    Thank you for your support.

    You can understand then that it is their choice not become independent, and a choice made with good reason.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 05:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Very good reasons.

    Nov 30th, 2015 - 08:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @17 Troy
    “With respect, Pete, I think you are giving #11 too much credence. ”

    Maybe, but independence is one possibility to neutralise Argentina's arguments.

    Belize was defended after they became independent of the UK.

    That said, the FIs should not contemplate independence without enough income to pay for defence, should a Corbyn-like PM decide to withdraw defensive protection from an Independent F I, so that FIG could pay for other defensive arrangements.

    The other scenario I presented in my post was that a British Falklands as at present where the UK pays for the defence of the Islands, frees Falkland Island income to be spent on services, goods and labour that could be (as it is from Chile and Uruguay) sourced from South America to SA's economic benefit.

    Whilst the UK remains part of the EU, South America can use the Falklands as a portal for British contacts with the IMF, EU, The Commonwealth, the G20 etc etc to their advantage.

    The fact that they don't, means they are missing a trick.

    Any infrastructure required in the Falklands (i.e. a deep water port) could have positive financial benefits for South America, but while they scream 'we're not playing with you' they lose out.

    Another down side of Independence, would be that the Islands are not affiliated to the EU, not a problem for the Islands, but it is South America who wants links with the EU, so they are missing a trick here.

    What ever opinions I or anyone else present, in the end it is up to the Falkland Islanders what they decide, enshrined in the UN Charter that specifically gives the right of self determination over a territory, to the people born on that territory.

    Dec 01st, 2015 - 11:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    You make some very good economic points. Falklands retain their EU status and their security and stability by staying a BOT.

    My objections were that, under the guise of being reasonable, someone with unknown motives, was urging them to do something. That and the fact that Cameron has nothing to do with it.

    In the end, the Falkland Islanders are not stupid, and I'm sure they won't let their guard down.
    They will do what is best, when the time is right.

    Dec 01st, 2015 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    We may yet withdraw from this unmighty EU.

    Dec 02nd, 2015 - 01:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @32 Troy

    “In the end, the Falkland Islanders are not stupid”

    This was/is not recognised by the Peronists/Malvanistas who seem to think you live in caves.

    Hence they actually thought it smart to offer an air service with Tu 134s, from an airline with a poor reputation, when you are already served with up to date Airbus aircraft, through Lan Chile and the RAF.

    It's a no brainer , but not to a Peronist.

    The fact that Argentina assumes the Islanders are stupid has not helped them at all, instead, it makes them look stupid. They have believed their own propaganda about the Islands and have succeeded in using that against themselves.

    I don't imagine Macri will be as stupid, and he may even be a lot more sensible toward the Falklands, but the genie is now out of the bottle where MLAs are now trying to counter every piece of false propaganda out of Argentina rather than their previous habits of ignoring Argentina and hoping it would disappear. Macri must privately realise that the more he raises the Malvinas Myth, the more it will be reflected back at him with counter arguments, but at least he can rightly blame CFK for making sure their remote chances of getting the Falklands have vanished, unless they mount another military invasion.

    And that possibility has been eliminated by CFK's dismantling of the armed forces so Macri can blame (justifiably) CFK for that too.

    Dec 03rd, 2015 - 12:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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