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Falklands: UK Statement at the UN Fourth Committee on Decolonization
“Hydrocarbon activities on the Falkland Islands continental shelf are regulated under Falkland Islands law and conducted in full accordance with international law, including UNCLOS” Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN’s Special Political and Decolonization Fourth Committee. “The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over both the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, and their surrounding maritime areas”.
“Nor do we have any doubt about the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination.”
“This is enshrined in the UN Charter and in Article One of both UN covenants on human rights, by virtue of which they are free to determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.
“In the 2013 referendum, which was conducted in line with international standards and was observed by independent, international observers, 99.8 per cent of those who voted wanted to remain their current status as a British Overseas Territory.
“Argentina’s decision to initiate arbitration against the United Kingdom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the latest attempt to undermine the rights and livelihoods of the people of the Falkland Islands.
“The people of the Falkland Islands have freely and democratically chosen their future, and they have every right to develop and manage their natural resources without intimidation, coercion, or interference from others.
“Hydrocarbon activities on the Falkland Islands continental shelf are regulated under Falkland Islands law and conducted in full accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.
“The United Kingdom will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Falkland Islands Government and the Falkland Islanders.
“We will robustly defend their wishes, their economy, and their right to determine their own future”.
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThe UN ICJ is pretty clear on self-determination and its application no matter what Argentina claims.
Oct 21st, 2026 - 03:36 pm 0Argentina is making an absolute fool of themselves. They know that everything the islanders are doing is legal.
Oct 21st, 2026 - 04:15 pm 0Fact is, it is more about what they are after and that is the oil.
They are not interested in preserving the environment.
This whole saga about sovereignty has never been about what they mythically say Spain gave them. It has always been about the oil.
When the oil starts to flow it will be game over for Argentina and they know it .
They are debt ridden and need the entire wealth of the south West Atlantic .
They know that there is more wealth in our area than the entire south American region .
The sea is full of a rich fishing source. A massive tourist industry as yet untapped and huge deposits of oil, not just in the sea lion tranch, but right accross the whole region towards Antarctica.
“The sovereignty dispute is abaut the eviction of the argentine settlement”
Oct 22nd, 2026 - 03:33 pm 0The Nootka Convention: ”...Article VI provided that neither party would form new establishments on any of the islands adjacent to the east and west coasts of South America then occupied by Spain....... there was an additional secret article which stipulated that Article VI shall remain in force only so long as no establishment shall have been formed by the subjects of any other power on the coasts in question. This secret article had the same force as if it were inserted in the convention.......The United Provinces of the River Plate was not a party to the convention. Therefore it is defined in the convention as 'other power' and the occupation of the settlement (at Port Louis) by subjects of any other power negated Article VI and allowed Great Britain to re-assert prior sovereignty and form new settlements.
http ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootka_Convention
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Apcbg/Nootka_Sound_Convention
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