
The British government has dismissed a reported threat from Argentina to prosecute oil firms drilling near the Falkland Islands. Argentine authorities said that the explorations “carry a huge environmental risk” and claimed that the London-registered companies, which announced last week they had found oil and gas in a remote field off the Islands, should be tried in Argentina

On the occasion of the 2nd April, when Argentina commemorate the veterans and those fallen in the Malvinas conflict, and following the UK government’s recent announcement to increase military spending in the South Atlantic, the Embassy of Argentina wishes to reiterate the following statements from Ambassador Alicia Castro.

The following column by Alicia Castro (*) was published 02 April by the Independent - On 24 March, the day that a debate was held in Parliament over the increase in defense expenditure for the Malvinas Islands, Argentina was commemorating the anniversary of the 1976 military coup.

Argentina is ‘malvinazing’ (Malvinas) its history, but not through chauvinist patriotism but mature nationalism that seeks international law and peace to recover sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, said president Cristina Fernandez during the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of the South Atlantic conflict on 2 April 1982.

Commodore Darren Bone MA has been appointed as the next Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands (CBFSAI), with headquarters in the Falkland Islands, and in April will replace Air Commodore Russ LaForte who has held the post since August 2013.

Argentina dispatched on Monday complaint letters to several international and regional organizations accusing the United Kingdom of further militarizing the Falklands/Malvinas, with an increased budget, alleging Argentina represents a 'live threat' to the Islanders in the British Overseas Territory and thus ignoring tens of resolutions calling for dialogue between the two sides on the Falklands issue.

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.

United Kingdom Unite boss Len McCluskey gave ‘the fullest of assurances’ that he would influence a future Labor government in Britain to respect the wishes of the people of Gibraltar in any dealings with Spain.

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.

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.