MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
The Falklands turn into a small South Atlantic economic power as the ghosts of 1982 return
The Falkland Islands are going through their traditional “commemoration season,” the cycle of ceremonies that recall the 1982 war each year, culminating in Liberation Day on 14 June, at a moment defined by two overlapping realities: the consolidation of the archipelago as a small economic power in the South Atlantic and the reactivation of diplomatic tensions with the United States and Argentina. A feature published on Saturday by the British newspaper The Sunday Times, written by Matthew Campbell from Fitzroy, captures the contrast between growing economic prosperity and the anxiety generated by the recent leak of a Pentagon memorandum. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesArgentine politicians always remind me of Peacocks strutting around displaying their feathers but in reality they are just chickens.
May 18th, 2026 - 10:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0Regarding Falklands oil exploration, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana stated in February 2010, that his Government would take 'all measures necessary to preserve our rights' and also reiterated that Argentina had a 'permanent claim' on the islands, saying ' Buenos Aires would complain to the UN over the oil project and might take the case to the International Courts of Justice in the Hague.' (British Drilling for Falklands Oil Threatens Argentine Relations, Pope, F. , 13 Feb 2010 and Potential Drilling off Falkland, Provokes Tension Between Argentina & UK, IRRU News, 17 Feb 2010).
They can complain all they want, it is none of their business, what an immature bunch of people they are.
May 18th, 2026 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Forget the peacocks, they are nothing but vultures, waiting for anything weak enough for them to gobble up...
May 18th, 2026 - 01:51 pm - Link - Report abuse +1per capita income is not only higher than mainland uk but it's more than double! no vat, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no property taxes. internal self government. defence costs met by uk taxpayer. right of obode in uk for falklands citizens provides free health care on nhs and free education at uk schools met by uk taxpayer. having your cake and eating it is a reality for the privileged falkland islanders in return for neglect 44 years ago that led to a traumatic invasion by a foreign power and after 74 days liberation by brave british armed forces.
May 19th, 2026 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hang on a bit Portman. Yes, there are fiscal costs to the British Government in continuing to defend and maintain a viable British Independent Overseas Territory. However, the cost of not doing 44 years ago, would have not just undermined UK standing in the world but would have condemned the Islanders to live under a foreign Government and one not of their choosing.
May 19th, 2026 - 08:54 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Having seen the mess left by the “liberators” then I can only admire the steadfast and practical way the islanders have made their home a much better place to live. You might want to visit and witness their “can-do” work ethic and perhaps reflect on where we went wrong in the UK.
It is near impossible, and in my view distasteful, to put a fiscal value on the principle of freedom, that has allowed the Falkland Islands, and their inhabitants to live and maintain a life of their own choosing. I do not think “privileged” is a proper description of a brave and resourceful people, that have accepted hardship to achieve what they have today.
As an exercise in humility, then research the numbers of Falkland Islanders who volunteered to help the UK in both world wars and did not return. Compare those findings with the overall population at the time. Sobering. It was also sad that three Falkland Islanders lost their lives, on the last day's fighting in 1982. You call us “brave” but that “sobriquet” equally applies to them.
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