
President Mauricio Macri's government reaffirmed on Sunday, 3 January, Argentina's sovereignty rights over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands on the 183 anniversary of the 'British occupation of the archipelago' in the South Atlantic, and called for dialogue with the United Kingdom. In a statement published in the Foreign Ministry site it said that “Argentina renews its commitment to the peaceful solution of controversies, to international law to and multilateralism”.

The new five-year Strategy for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands 2016-2020 was published on 27th November. The Strategy sets out an ambitious agenda to deliver the highest standards of environmental stewardship and governance for the British Overseas Territory, according to the latest South Georgia Newsletter.

Gibraltar's incumbent Chief Minister Fabian Picardo thanked his supporters for their “tsunami of support” on Friday after he won a landslide victory in a general election.

The British government reaffirmed its support for the Falkland Islands and its right to self determination as part of the recently announced Strategic Defense and Security review 2015, which pledges an extra increase £12bn of spending on defense equipment - part of London's £178bn overall defense equipment and support budget during the next decade.

Falkland Islands lawmakers have reacted with caution and expectation to the election of Mauricio Macri, ex Buenos Aires mayor, as Argentina's next president. He will succeed on 10 December Cristina Fernandez and twelve years of rough relations with Kirchnerism and constant intimidation.

Britain's David Cameron and Argentina's president-elect Mauricio Macri agreed to “strengthen relations” and “to pursue a path of open dialogue” between their countries after a phone call Thursday, Downing Street said.

The Falkland Islands will be attending the fourth meeting of the British Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) will be held in London on 1 - 2 December at Lancaster House, which will be hosted by FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories James Duddridge MP.

A recent formation of the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, FOTBOT, had an interesting participation at the British parties conferences this season with fringe meetings open to the public and panel discussions on political issues pertaining to the British Overseas Territories, including whether BOT's should have representation in Westminster.

The oil and gas operations being undertaken by Italy's Edison International S.p.A. on the Argentine continental shelf near the disputed Falkland Islands are illegal and clandestine, the Argentine Energy Ministry said Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, MP Andrew Rosindel and Charles Tannock MEP, were among several personalities that visited the Falkland Islands stand at the Conservative Conference which is taking place in Manchester. He was met by Falklands lawmakers Jan Cheek and Roger Edwards, and Sukey Cameron, head of FIGO, Falklands' government office in London.