The Falklands, FIFA and the Future of the British Overseas Territories

Tuesday, July 21st 2026 - 07:10 UTC

Full article 4 comments

By Peter Clegg (*) <br />
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I have been researching the British Overseas Territories (BOTs) and their geopolitical relationships for over twenty years, and I cannot remember so much focus on them as there has been in recent days. The FIFA World Cup match between England and Argentina provoked heated discussions over the future of the Falkland Islands (or Malvinas if you are Argentine). Gibraltar has received significant media coverage with the removal of the border infrastructure with Spain. The Caricom Reparations Committee has called for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to be decolonized by the UK, and new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will likely retain the government’s commitment to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. So, are we witnessing centrifugal forces that could fracture the BOTs’ relationship with the ‘UK family’? Read full article

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Steve Potts
Falklands - the clear view is that Argentina has NO legal claim to the Falkland Islands
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Roger Lorton
Falkland Islands?
Britain's claim is based on:
Effective possession of the western islands since 1771.
Effective possession of the Spanish island of Soledad since 1833.
Continuous, open, and peaceful possession.
Usucaption

Argentina's claim is based on:
Inheritance from Spain (unrecognised, not least by the UK)

If Argentina had a valid claim, it would seek to make an approach to the ICJ, not least to test its theory of inheritance. Until Argentina does so, the question would seem to be settled.

https://falklandstimeline.wordpress.com/subsequent-work/
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Steve Potts
Author states: However, there is not a clear view at the United Nations or in international courts in relation to who has the strongest territorial claim...

I say that Argentina's claim is 100% illegitimate and they cannot find one, just one piece of international law that they can put before an international court that supports their claim.

They and their followers even spouted fairy-tales at the UN when trying to justify their 1982 invasion.of the Falklands.It doesn't wash with an informed public.

Falklands 1982 – Argentina’s Invasion Excuses Refuted: https://www.academia.edu/170425747/Falklands_1982_Argentinas_Invasion_Excuses_Refuted
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Islander1
Author says Chagos Islands should be returned
To Mauritius - actually they never historically belonged to Mauritius.
BVI did have full internal self government some years ago - same as the rest of us - but their elected
Members got mixed up in a range of corrupt deals - hence London re-imposed direct rule. In due course when it becomes clear they are serious about going down the road of democracy again , they will get self government back - they can of course have a free and independently witnessed referendum for Independence if they wish and there appears a fair number wanting it.
Gibraltar - an arrangement of convenience as several thousand Spanish nationals need easy daily access by foot or car/bus to work and simple for Gibraltar and to visit that are as of Spain . Gibraltar remains 100% British with its elected Government running all internal affairs and their offshore economic area, and a British Governor.

As for us Falklanders well , many of our ancestors were styled and living here before Stanton’s egged its own Colonial civil war against the indef ed boys populations of Patagonia and simply exterminated them. As for Football banners and their reputation for foul play and dirty deals in international football -
we are used to it and have been regular since 1966’. They have been fined by FIFA before for the same- and know they will not get redcardef as plenty of rumors of corrupt deals between Arg Football Association and the bosses of FIFA.
Luckily Rugby is different and with them and UK teams it is traditionally fair and friendly and their spectators similar,

Along article of the author full of errors and historical errors

Islander
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