MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' visit by Defense secretary Fallon “while parliament is in recess”
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon is scheduled to visit the Falkland Islands this week, the first such visit in over a decade. However the timing of the visit has caused some irritation with the Foreign Office, according to the London media, since it could interfere with the current approach with the new Argentine administration. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rules“A Whitehall source says...”
Feb 15th, 2016 - 06:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0Is this from the Women's Weekly?
What next? 'A close friend of the Fallons confided is us that....'
I doubt anyone is irritated by this visit outside BsAs. And Macri won't make an issue of it. But CFK's Twitter might be entertaining.
Well done, Michael Fallon.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 08:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0What the hell has this visit got to do with Brexit? Are we in silly season already? A non-story. If Argentina kept quiet about Angela Eagles comments, they are hardly going to be bothered by this.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 08:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0“..the visit has caused some irritation with the Foreign Office, according to the London media, since it could interfere with the current approach with the new Argentine administration.”
Feb 15th, 2016 - 10:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0There are times when I think that the PC brigade many of whom inhabit the echelons of power have completely lost the plot.
According to the London media, whoever takes notice of the London media. Anything to sell newspapers. Non story move on.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 10:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0He's the 'Defence' secretary NOT 'defense'...he's British not American.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Nice to welcome a Minister of the Cabinet to our Islands.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 11:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0Maybe whilst he is in the Islands he could make a statement or help to get motivated the process of the unknown fallen identication. This would give a message of respect, decency and put the ball in their court to sort this awful situation out.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 12:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Maybe he and those MPs can do a swim across Falkland Sound to raise awareness that the Falklands are British?
Feb 15th, 2016 - 12:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@8. “Respect, decency” for argies? Since they have neither, they wouldn't understand. Anything would just be seen as weakness. A better proposition would be to dig the argie cemetery up and ship the contents to argieland. Argieland could then do whatever it liked with whatever remained of the rotting corpses. It might be an idea to take x-rays of each corpse and then stick an identification label to each corpse with an 8-inch stake hammered through label and rot. Or perhaps something made of short-life radio-actives.
Feb 15th, 2016 - 03:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Conq
Feb 15th, 2016 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Stop drinking and stay away from small children.
Everything You Need To Know About British Forces in the Falklands
Feb 15th, 2016 - 08:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://forces.tv/53458628
////
New general purpose frigates to be known as Type 31
It has been reported that the new general purpose frigates are to be known as Type 31. It’s been reported that a concept study is…
http://forces.tv/53458628
////
.
@12 Briton
Feb 15th, 2016 - 08:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I remember seeing the Type 45 as a concept study...and now (according to the former foreign minister of Argentina - dear Hector) it is the Death Star!
I can only imagine what the Type 31 will be. Super Star Destroyer perhaps?
As for the Defence Minister visiting the Falklands. Good on him. And I hope he tells the Foreign Office to Foxtrot Oscar.
Argentina is desperate for investment and loans. If they want to cry about this and cut off their noses to spite their faces, well it won't harm the UK economy at all. But I doubt Macri will make a big fuss about it. He isn't CFK. He's actually trying to govern and trying to get Argentina out of the mess made by Cristina's 'won' decade.
And it certainly won't hurt to gently remind Argentina that the UK is fully behind the Falkland Islanders and won't put up with any Argentine shenanigans.
@11. You should talk. Still doing it with the dingoes and the joeys? And drinking platypus piss?
Feb 15th, 2016 - 08:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah that was pretty weak, old man.
Feb 16th, 2016 - 12:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Glad to see you posting whilst a little more sober!
Welcome, Minister Fallon. Have a great stay and may you enjoy some excellent Falklands hospitality.
Feb 16th, 2016 - 11:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0Inflated article...Mr Fallon is paying a visit; that's all.
Feb 16th, 2016 - 01:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0British minister visiting the British Falkland's islands argies r not welcome.
Feb 16th, 2016 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think the foreign office may have a point, perhaps the new moderate Argentine President could have done without this, for a quite Argentina is of benefit to us and the Islanders, and no that does not mean hand them over, to the rabid brigade here!
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@19 Palermo
Feb 17th, 2016 - 12:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No the Foreign Office is, as usual, wrong.
What happens in British territory is NOTHING to do with Argentina. The sooner they grow up and realise that, the better.
The only people who will be hurt if Argentina decides to act all childish and throw their toys out of the pram are Argentines.
Remember that it is Argentina that is desperate for money, desperate for trade and desperate for foreign investment.
In order to have those things they need to show that they are mature, trustworthy and follow international law: something that under their previous governments have never happened.
Macri is new. I honestly believe that he's trying to get Argentina out of the hell that Kirchner's 'won' decade put them in. Alienating one of the biggest economies in the world, who has a lot of influence in the world, would be insane.
So the Argentine government shouldn't take any notice of this visit. It's none of their business. Instead they should concentrate on getting all that foreign investment, stimulate the economy, make it more attractive for foreign firms to come into Argentina and set up shop, thus creating jobs for the people.
Time will tell if Macri is the responsible politician that Argentina so desperately needs, but British foreign policy shouldn't be dictated about whether it'll make Macri's position more difficult. That really is his problem.
One of the 1st things he should be doing is overhauling the Argentine education system and stop it spreading propaganda.
But I doubt that will happen.
I have been reading some articles about this visit in the argentine media.
Feb 17th, 2016 - 03:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In these articles de Minister of Defense told the islandres: “Argentina is no a threat” but added that you have an “internal threat” that is a british liberal politician that suggested the idea of “a constructive and mature dialogue between the parties for mutual benefit”.....
I was wondering whether the ISSI open a branch in the UK MOD.
@21
Feb 17th, 2016 - 04:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Trouble is Argentina wont talk to the FALKLANDERS, and If and a big IF Corbyn starts talks with Argentina with regards Soverneigty it would be political suicide. You have no idea how passionate the Brits are with regard to our BOTS.
@20 Lep
Feb 20th, 2016 - 03:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The only people who will be hurt if Argentina decides to act all childish and throw their toys out of the pram are Argentines.
Remember that it is Argentina that is desperate for money, desperate for trade and desperate for foreign investment.”
Correct. It could be in our interests to support Macri, but not if it's against our own interests.
It's not our fault that Argentina has tried to self implode-in fact if they were to revert to Peronism it would make it less of a threat to us (Mirage 111 fighters have been replaced by....Tucanos-I understand even the remaining Super Etendards are grounded).
A Macri government would be more diplomatic and easier too deal with but CFKs aggressive stance toward the UK gained them absolutely nothing.
I hope the Argentines realise who are actually holding the cards.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!