Falkland Islands

• Saturday, March 28th 2015 - 10:21 UTC

  HMS Lancaster takes over from HMS Dragon in South Atlantic patrol tasking

  

  Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster sailed from her home in Portsmouth last week for a routine nine-month Atlantic patrol tasking, which includes the Falklands and South Georgia. She is the first ship in the Royal Navy to deploy with the new Wildcat helicopter, and her crew are wearing the newest naval uniform in 70 years.

• Saturday, March 28th 2015 - 09:47 UTC

  Falklands' conflict hypothesis: Argentine Mirages are banned from flying on cloudy days

  

  The Argentine government and media agree that the country does not have the military capacity to attack the Falkland Islands as feared by Britain. A report in daily La Nacion points out the Argentine armed forces lack landing crafts, troop transport vessels and even the Mirage fighter planes are banned from flying on cloudy days because of repeated problems with their instruments.

• Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 14:41 UTC

  Falklands' main import trading partner is the UK with 87% of all goods

  

  The United Kingdom is the main import trading partner of the Falkland Islands with 87% of all imported goods coming from the UK in 2012 (Customs and Immigration 2013) with the rest imported mostly from Chile and Uruguay, according to the latest report on the Falklands' “State of the Economy”.

• Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 08:02 UTC

  Falklands reassured by UK commitment to defense and by House support

  

  The Falkland Islands elected Legislative Assembly welcomed the statement of Secretary of Defense before the House of Commons and said it was reassuring that the UK government remains committed to the defense of the Islands, and equally significant the strong support received by the secretary from members of Parliament.

• Thursday, March 26th 2015 - 07:48 UTC

  Falklands' defense expenditure increase' will be taken before the UN, says Argentina

  

  Argentina will take the United Kingdom before the United Nations Decolonization Committee following London's announcement it was increasing expenditure on the Falkland Islands defense, said Foreign minister Hector Timerman on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2015 - 21:35 UTC

  Falklands releases “State of the Economy” and “Living Wage” reports

  

  The Falkland Islands has released two new documents, the Islands State of the Economy and on income needed to comfortably cover all of a household's expenses. The Falklands enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the Americas with low inflation and virtually full employment.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2015 - 07:07 UTC

  Falklands' economy performance impressive, although volatile and vulnerable

  

  The Falkland Islands economy has witnessed impressive, although volatile, growth in recent years with unemployment rates low enough to be the envy of most countries in the world and the government is free of debt, according to the latest “State of the Economy” released by the Falklands Policy Unit.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2015 - 06:39 UTC

  Argentina as a 'live threat' to the Falklands, triggers fury from Buenos Aires

  

  The government of President Cristina Fernandez accused the United Kingdom of using an alleged Argentine threat to the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in order to boost its military budget, while also claiming that the archipelago has been turned into an electoral campaign issue.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2015 - 06:27 UTC

  Falklands: no surge in troop numbers but upgraded infrastructure and £180 million in ten years

  

  United Kingdom Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has dispelled media reports suggesting a surge in troop numbers was likely. Fallon on Tuesday outlined £180 million infrastructure spending plans, but told MPs numbers would remain at around 1,200 military and civilian personnel.

• Tuesday, March 24th 2015 - 04:55 UTC

  Falklands' defense review full statement from Secretary Fallon expected soon

  

  A statement from UK Defense secretary Michael Fallon relative to the Falkland Islands' garrison is expected sometime this week, according to reports in the British media. The Falklands' military response capacity has been a matter of much ongoing debate among analysts and former officers, as Argentina allegedly is involved in increased military expenditure.