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Argentina complains about UK military exercises in Falklands with missiles

Saturday, October 15th 2016 - 08:15 UTC
Full article 47 comments

Argentina formally complained on Friday about military exercises with missiles that Britain is planning this month in the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Argentina's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had sent a letter to the British ambassador Mark Kent demanding the country call off the “illegitimate” exercises, which are scheduled for Oct. 19-28 and include the launching of Rapier missiles. Read full article

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  • Think

    TWIMC

    A biiig thanks to the occupying Combined Brutish Armed Farces in Malvinas for having shot down that turnipy “aproachement” initiative from the present Argie administration...

    Think is happy...

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 08:45 am - Link - Report abuse -9
  • saphira

    I expect it will be a better result than the Exocet tests in February, bit of a damp squib so I hear.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 08:59 am - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Think

    Exocet tests in February...?
    Please, tell us more about that..., my dear musical kindred spirit & Kelperette...

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse -7
  • The Voice

    The colonialist Think is happy? If I remember correctly he was happy with the Botox Queen, Fat Max, their blatant thieving and impoverishment of Argentina. Perhaps Argentina's comic Navy should stage a counter exercise - break out the canoes!

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:22 am - Link - Report abuse +4
  • Think

    C'mon Saphira...!
    I promess I won't tell nobody...
    Tell me about your damp squib experience with those frenchies...
    ;-)

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:32 am - Link - Report abuse -7
  • saphira

    http://www.janes.com/article/58226/argentine-navy-tests-locally-upgraded-mm38-missiles There you go

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:37 am - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Think

    Ahhhhhh...

    You meant “Our” test with them old frenchies...

    Now I am more at ease...!

    I thought some decommisioned RN ones had, somehow, found their way to them Islands...

    Have a nice weekend...
    El Think.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:48 am - Link - Report abuse -6
  • Captain Byron

    So 4 out of 6 Exocets failed to hit a large undefended tanker? Who upgraded them, someone on paco? Wouldn't leave many for the Asters and Phalanx to shoot down, someone needs to tell them that Exocets are last generation. Turnips.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 10:30 am - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Think

    TWIMC

    Think is happpppppy...as long as the Argentinean Armed Farces are pacified by playing with their auuuuuuuuld weaponery and don't harm nobody...

    Think doesn't want no agressive Armed Farces like this ones...:
    Libya...:
    http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2016/827-the-great-libya.html

    Yemen...:
    http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2016/827-the-great-libya.html

    Syria...:
    http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2016/827-the-great-libya.html

    And don't get me started with auldies as Iraq or Afghanistan...!

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 10:52 am - Link - Report abuse -7
  • RICO

    Every country has the right to prepare its defence forces and carries out training exercises. The missile launches will be carried out hundreds of miles away from Argentina and I don't think there has ever been a case of a British missile or torpedo accidentally hitting Argentine shipping.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 10:56 am - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Room101

    Much as I bolster the idea of UK/ Falklands -readiness, I can see Argentina's point, but it's Catch 22.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse -4
  • Think

    Paraphrasing the Anglo Turnip above...

    Every country has the right to prepare its defence forces and carries out training exercises. The missile launches will be carried out hundreds of miles away from America/England/Et Al... and I don't think there has ever been a case of a North Korean missile or torpedo accidentally hitting American/Engrish/Et Al shipping.

    Haughty, double standard Anglo Turnips...!

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 11:15 am - Link - Report abuse -7
  • DemonTree

    Think, North Korea is an unstable dictatorship that has been test-firing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles into Japanese airspace. They've also been specifically banned from doing so by the UN.

    Not saying Argentina has no right to complain, but a routine test of anti-aircraft missiles is not remotely comparable.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse +5
  • Think

    Mr. DemonTree

    I was just responding to the...: ***“Every country has the right to prepare its defence forces blah, blah, blah”*** argument by Anglo Turnip “Rico”.....

    Not quite comparable, indeed....
    ... But more than enough to shoot down that turnipy “aproachement” initiative from the present Argie administration...

    Thank you very much again..., occupying Combined Brutish Armed Farces in Malvinas...
    Continue with your good job as in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Et Al...
    You made me day...
    El Think.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse -6
  • Roger Lorton

    What point? They make sure their missiles work, we make sure that ours will too. Missile tests take place every year, Argentina only complains every few years

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 12:00 pm - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Think

    Stop playing the innocent... Mr. Lorton...
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ty5pBqFxtU ;-)

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 12:08 pm - Link - Report abuse -8
  • LEPRecon

    This Argentine government is showing itself to be as big a fool as the previous Argentine government.

    These exercised have been going on for years, yet it is only now that they 'complain' 'cry' and 'crawl' to the international community about the 'nasty' Brits.

    However, these missiles have limited range and couldn't reach Argentina. They are short range DEFENSIVE missiles.

    The only way these would be a threat to Argentina is if Argentina tries to invade sovereign British territory, such as the Falkland Islands, South Georgia etc...

    Hey Think...maybe you're right and the British Armed forces aren't that strong anymore...but what does that make Argentina's armed forces? An even bigger farce?

    A force of more than 80,000 kept at bay by about 1,000 military personnel, 4 aircraft and short range missiles.

    Now that is pathetic...isn't it?

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 12:25 pm - Link - Report abuse +7
  • Islander1

    Think- these short range- max 7miles live fire exercises happen once or twice a year and have done for a long time- Appreciate to satisfy some nationalistic people in Arg that the Govt has to make a paper “protest”. But we all know it is actually irrelevant to the current statements of intent to improve relations and unlock some of the decade of K nastiness that got her totally zero result other than being laughed at - they are on a somewhat higher level.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Think

    Islander1

    You say...:
    “But we all know it is actually irrelevant to the current statements of intent to improve relations... etc..., etc...,etc...”

    I say...:
    “You all”..., whoever them may be... are grossly misinformed..., not to say brainwashed about Argentinean realities, laddie...

    Please... shoot some more missils...
    El Think.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse -8
  • The Voice

    FYI Rapier is a practically obselete air defence weapon designed in the late 1960s. Perhaps the Army is having a bit of fun firing off the last stock of missiles? If the Argies were to send over any aircraft still capable of flying that would be really great.

    As for the negative comments about the conflicts in the middle east, one must bear in mind the cruel dictators that were displaced and the dictator who is bombing children right now. Some folks in SA have always been tolerant of dictators and the Norwegian Blue is obviously no exception.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 01:35 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • DemonTree

    @Think
    AFAIK every country does have the right to defend themselves, but no country has the right to develop nuclear weapons and the delivery systems for them, although some have done it anyway.

    Also I wonder how necessary the tests are. People in Argentina were unhappy about Macri's agreement with the UK because they didn't think Argentina was getting enough out of it. Perhaps if Britain agreed to stop doing missile tests in exchange for lifting the sanctions, they might feel differently?

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 01:51 pm - Link - Report abuse +4
  • Think

    Mr. DemonTree...

    Are you pulling me leg...?

    1) ...“No country has the right to develop nuclear weapons and the delivery systems for them” ... am I told by an Engrishman..., a citizen of one of the biggest Nuclear Bully Nations on Earth...

    2) “Perhaps if Britain agreed to stop doing missile tests in exchange for lifting the sanctions, they might feel differently?”... am I told by an Engrishman..., a citizen of the nation that in exchange of an offer of exploratory diplomatic talks... gave Argentina an immediate, innecessary and haughty missile test in the Malvinas disputed zone...

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 02:08 pm - Link - Report abuse -7
  • Enrique Massot

    May's not helping Macri to sell his “peace and love” initiative to Argentines.
    Shortsighted but predictable.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 02:38 pm - Link - Report abuse -7
  • DemonTree

    Think, I don't make international law. 191 states, including Argentina, have signed up to a treaty that allows just 5 of them to possess nuclear weapons and bans all others from developing them. Apparently they thought it was a worthwhile bargain despite the obvious unfairness.

    And don't you mean one of the smallest nuclear bully nations on Earth? I'm pretty sure all the others are bigger. ;)

    And the missile tests are apparently routinely done every six months and not related to the talks at all. Why does Argentina object to them exactly?

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 02:45 pm - Link - Report abuse +7
  • Lord Lucan

    One must always have in mind that Macris administration may only be short term and Argentina could revert it its brainless failed socialist chaos at any time soon. Rabid Malvinistas still openly spout their lies learnt by rote and anti British rhetoric given any opportunity. Thus the Falkland Islands must be protected against the blatant hostility constantly exhibited by the brainwashed knuckleheads lurking in the Villas awaiting their next Peronist choripan.

    Lock, load and stand ready!

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse +6
  • Think

    Nope..., I do actually mean the UK...
    THE biggest Nuclear Bully Nation of them NINE (9) Nuclear Bully Nations on Earth.

    AFAIK..., none of the other EIGHT (8) Nuclear Bully Nations on Earth has threathen the World with a Nuclear Holocaust for so little...:

    “Excuse me,” Mitterrand begins, apologising for his late arrival. “I had a difference of opinion to settle with the Iron Lady. What an impossible woman, that Thatcher!
    “With her four nuclear submarines on mission in the southern Atlantic, she threatens to launch the atomic weapon against Argentina — unless I supply her with the secret codes that render deaf and blind the missiles we have sold to the Argentinians....”
    http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/110663

    Educate yourself...

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 03:01 pm - Link - Report abuse -11
  • darragh

    try reading your link

    “The psychoanalyst has assured his publisher that all the quotes attributed to Mitterrand are genuine, although he cannot vouch for the truth of what the president said”

    Educate yourself

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse +7
  • DemonTree

    @Think
    Well that sounds ever so plausible, and from such a reliable source too!

    Thatcher could never have thought she'd get away with using nuclear weapons and she wasn't that crazy anyway.

    *If* she told Mitterrand she would use them, which I don't believe, she was bluffing.

    Meanwhile, the US and USSR actually threatened the world with nuclear holocaust over some missiles in Cuba, and the Soviets came this close to starting a nuclear war due to a malfunction in their early warning system.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 03:27 pm - Link - Report abuse +7
  • Think

    Mr. DemonTree

    “*If* she told Mitterrand she would use them, which I don't believe, she was bluffing.”... you say...

    What a difference that makes!
    The UK is not a Nuclear Bully Nation...
    The UK is a Bluffing Nuclear Bully Nation...

    Besides...
    What makes you, an annonimous poster in an obscure, FCO financed, “Newsagency” more credible than a recognized and properly named French psychoanalyst that writes a book about his experiences?

    Anyhow, the French Secret Service tapes of that conversation between Mr. Mitterrand and Mme. Thatcher do surely exist and will eventually see the light of day...

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 03:56 pm - Link - Report abuse -9
  • HughJuanCoeurs

    and the reason for the UK holding these tests is..? The illegal Argentine invasion of another state's sovereign territory back in 1982. Just saying'

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse +5
  • The Voice

    Wrong Think, Maggie merely threatened to handbag Miterand, far more effective than nukes. The lesson for you is 'don't mess with the Brits, or you will get your arses handed to you on a plate'. And, he deserved the handbagging handing weapons to evil dictators heading pariah nations.

    Now trot off back into your cage and enjoy attacking that cuttlefish bone and your Millet, you can just about handle tbat.

    Pretty Polly!

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • DemonTree

    @Think
    I don't expect you to find me more credible.

    It's just my opinion, which is that a recognised and properly named French psychoanalyst, who wants to sell more copies of his book by including as many dramatic revelations as possible, is *not* a very credible source.

    If that supposed tape exists and is produced, and shown to be genuine by experts, then I will believe it happened. France had and has perfectly good reasons to support the UK without needing to be threatened.

    And nuclear weapons *are* a big bluff. There are almost no circumstances where anyone would actually benefit from using them, but as long as your enemies believe you will then they won't attack you. Unfortunately this works especially well for the Kim Jong-uns of this world.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 05:44 pm - Link - Report abuse +5
  • Pete Bog

    Carry on moaning as much as you like Argies. A truly paranoid nation that is scared of missiles with a maximum range of 4-7 miles. And they can only be used to shoot down attacking aircraft. This shows the lack of intelligence displayed by all Argentine governments. Instead of teaching Peronist Propaganda on the Falklands that is factually incorrect, try teaching your kids some simple Mathematics. Then you could work out that a Rapier missile has no chance of threatening the Argentine mainland. But why don't the British Government refute this by stating the obvious? Air defence missiles will never be aimed at the Argentine mainland. Therefore they are no threat whatsoever.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Briton

    Britain should now withdraw all offers of help and future trade,
    Argentina has continually and continues to show that she is not ready to re-join the rest of the world, total lack of respect and continuing rubbish claims against the Falkland's,

    proving beyond doubt they are still an Empiratic nation in waiting
    tell em to soddy offy and ignore them.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Roger Lorton

    As Confucius once said - “when man in hole, he should stop digging.”

    And if he didn't say it, he should have

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 01:28 am - Link - Report abuse +6
  • downunder

    It said the exercises “contradict the principle of peaceful conflict resolution” and called the Falklands “Argentine territory illegitimately occupied by the United Kingdom.”

    “Argentine territory” – not! That is the fallacy of the argument and so the rest of the logic that flows from it is flawed.

    The Falklands are NOT Argentine territory, they never have been and probably never will be.

    Britain has a right to defend its territory, in fact it’s an obligation. By maintaining and adequate level of defence on the islands, Britain is ensuring that the world is not presented by any more nasty surprises like the attempted Argentine seizure of the Falklands in 1982.

    A well prepared British military presence is keeping the peace in the South Atlantic thereby avoiding conflict.

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 02:31 am - Link - Report abuse +5
  • gordo01

    Please, Argentina, just show the world that you are a mature nation instead of a bunch of posing juveniles! Britain does not pose a risk for Argentina as Argentina poses for Britain and the Falkland Islands.

    Grow up!

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 05:40 am - Link - Report abuse +5
  • Pugol-H

    The exercises are necessary, if for no other reason than to remind Argentina that their claim is DISPUTED.

    Good to keep reminding them that their “imprescriptible” sovereignty claims, are aspirational rather than actual.

    WHOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Briton

    Its a sad fact, that in the 21st century, we still have old geriatrics that wants to conquer everything they see.

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 05:06 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Think

    I Think... this could be the right moment to remind all those indignated Engrish posters here present about me daling Faith Felton's antiargentine petition...

    It has been a bit slow for her last week.... with only 0 new signataries...

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/is-your-cheap-holiday-worth-their-lives

    Chuckle chuckle...

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 05:53 pm - Link - Report abuse -7
  • Enrique Massot

    Again. Argentine has already stated it will keep claiming the Islas Malvinas by pacific means.
    Argentina has claimed the islands since 1833 and renewed its claim in 2012.
    The U.K. and the islanders may be bothered by the Argentine persistence, but nothing indicates that Argentina will cease its efforts for international support for its claim.
    Now, islanders and the U.K. can keep scoffing, laughing, crying or doing whatever they please. Some Argentine governments may be more assertive than others, but the issue will not go away.
    The latest one to discover that was the Macri government, which would have been please to look the other way but realized soon enough that there are many better things to do than playing with this hot potato.

    Oct 16th, 2016 - 11:16 pm - Link - Report abuse -5
  • downunder

    The “issue” as you put it is that Argentina is trying to steal territory that does not belong to it.
    Argentina can persist with its stunts, whines, and efforts to seduce international opinion all it likes, but that doesn’t get away from the fact that, after all the spin and bullshit - Argentina is a thief.

    But worse than that, by attempting to deny the Falkland Islanders the right to self-determination, Argentina is in breach of its human rights obligations.

    I am sure that this behaviour has not escaped the attention of the international community.

    Oct 17th, 2016 - 01:57 am - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Pugol-H

    @Enrique Massot
    The British have claimed the Islands since 1690 and exercised sovereignty over them since 1765.

    Both long before “Argentina” ever existed, in any form.

    In the modern world, no liberal democracy on the planet is going to support Argentina’s position that the Islanders don’t have the rights in this.

    It was the World, in the form of the UN that gave the Islanders the right to self-determination and have confirmed it in every resolution on the subject since.

    Do you really think that when the world drew up the UN charter and passed the De-colonisation declaration, Res 1514, they didn’t know what it said?

    Argentina can argue that, in fact, despite what everyone else thought, the Islanders don’t actually have the rights the charter and resolutions say they have?

    Only in Argentina is this believable.

    It is Argentina’s problems that are not going to go away, until there is some “reality” in Argentina and Argentinian thinking.

    The attitude to the Malvinas there, is a direct measure of how far in un-reality they are at any given time.

    Oct 17th, 2016 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Briton

    Argentina should mind its own business.

    Oct 17th, 2016 - 06:43 pm - Link - Report abuse +3
  • Hepatia

    England will return the Malvinas within 25 years.

    Oct 18th, 2016 - 10:47 pm - Link - Report abuse -6
  • HughJuanCoeurs

    Poor old Hepatia. Again with the old “England will return the Malvinas within 25 years” BS.
    #1 Yes, we have no Malvinas...
    #2 England doesn't have the wherewithal to return the FALKLANDS (please learn the difference between “England” and “The United Kingdom of Great Britain”
    #3 The United Kingdom of Great Britain won't be returning the Falklands to Argentina without the express wishes and permission of the Falkland Islanders
    #4 It ain't going to happen

    Oct 19th, 2016 - 06:44 am - Link - Report abuse +4
  • gordo1

    Withdraw your fairy tale, mythical claims to sovereignty and maybe we will withdraw our armaments.

    Argentina - país de boludos y nabos.

    Oct 19th, 2016 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse +2
  • Jack Bauer

    Reekie, yr comments

    “Again. Argentine has already stated it will keep claiming the Islas Malvinas by pacific means. Argentina has claimed the islands since 1833 and renewed its claim in 2012”,

    are about as ridiculous as the US “claiming Canada by pacific means” ....it appears that to you - and a lot of uninformed Argies - by placing a claim to a part of another country's territory - that was never Argentina's - makes it legitimate to force that country into negotiations.
    That is why no negotiation will ever take place. But I'm sure you'll keep on whining.

    Oct 20th, 2016 - 06:12 pm - Link - Report abuse +3

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