MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands, Argentina recalls the 193 anniversary of UK “illegitimate” occupation and calls for bilateral dialogue
In its annual routine statement, the Argentine Foreign ministry has recalled the 193rd anniversary of 3 January 1833, when ‘the illegitimate occupation of the Malvinas Islands’ and ‘has reaffirmed its legitimate and imprescriptible sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime spaces’.
The release points out that “On 3 January 1833 United Kingdom forces occupied the Malvinas islands breaking the territorial integrity of our country and dislodging the Argentine authorities and people legitimately established, replacing them with British subjects. This action done in times of peace and contrary to international Law, was never consented by Argentina, which has since formulated immediate and sustained diplomatic protests until currently.
“The sovereignty dispute was acknowledged by the UN General Assembly with Resolution 2065 (XX), calling on Argentina and the United Kingdom to resolve it through bilateral negotiations, without having the self-determination principle considered applicable. This call has been reiterated in numerous international and regional forae.
“Likewise this year will be the 50th anniversary of Resolution 31/49 from the UN General Assembly, calling on both sides to abstain from adopting decisions which entail the introduction of unilateral modifications to this situation.
“Nevertheless the UK persists in its negative to negotiate and in adopting unilateral actions in the disputed zone. These actions include awarding illegal and illegitimate licenses for the exploitation of natural resources: fishing and hydrocarbons.
“The Argentine government again expresses its most emphatic rejection of the unilateral activities in areas under sovereignty dispute undertaken by the UK, and reserves the rights to fully exercise available actions to impede their development.
“Finally, Argentina once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with UK which help find a peaceful solution to this sovereignty dispute and put an end to the special and particular colonial situation of the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime spaces.”
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Read all commentsCry, whine. moan and complain all you want, the matter is settled ,the talking stopped when you illegally invaded in 1982 . Sovereignty is not up for debate, the islands belong to the people who live there, grow up Argentina.
Jan 03rd, 2026 - 10:34 pm +4You have no clue what you are talking about Bras, the islands where British before Argentina existed, it is already resolved, before posting crap do some research.
Jan 04th, 2026 - 07:03 pm +4Just for the sake of argument, I asked the XAI a question - “If a territory was taken by force in the 19th century and then successfully retained for 193 years, would the country that took that territory have full sovereign rights?”
Jan 05th, 2026 - 01:59 am +4The answer =
Yes, under international law, a country that acquired territory by force in the 19th century—when conquest was generally recognized as a valid mode of acquisition under the legal standards of the era—would typically retain full sovereign rights over that territory today, provided it has maintained effective control without the original claim being successfully overturned. This is governed by the principle of intertemporal law, which assesses the validity of the acquisition based on the rules in force at the time it occurred, while the ongoing maintenance of sovereignty must align with contemporary norms (e.g., no further use of force to retain it).The 193-year retention period would further strengthen the title through historical consolidation or acquisitive prescription, a doctrine in international law where prolonged, continuous, and peaceful exercise of sovereignty (à titre de souverain) over the territory can extinguish competing claims, especially if there has been acquiescence (tacit consent or lack of effective objection) from other states. Prescription does not require the initial acquisition to be lawful under modern standards; it focuses on the factual reality of long-term control and general international acceptance over time. Historical examples illustrate this: Many U.S. territories (e.g., parts of the Southwest acquired via the Mexican-American War in 1848) were taken by force in the 19th century and are now indisputably sovereign U.S. land.
So, if if Argentina's spurious claims were correct, nothing changes.
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