James Cleverly has insisted the Falklands are British after Argentina tore up a cooperation agreement and pushed for fresh talks on the sovereignty of the islands. Argentinian Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero told his British counterpart about the decision when they met on the margins of a G20 summit in India.
The pact struck in 2016 between Argentina and the UK pledged to “improve co-operation on South Atlantic issues of mutual interests”.
London and Buenos Aires had agreed to work together towards removing restrictions over fossil fuels, shipping and fishing around the Falkland Islands.
The deal also noted how the two countries agreed to disagree about the islands’ sovereignty.
In response to the announcement, Mr Cleverly tweeted: “The Falkland Islands are British.
Buenos Aires is now demanding a meeting at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York to resume sovereignty negotiations.
A UN resolution issued in 1965 invites the UK and Argentina to reach a peaceful agreement over the islands’ sovereignty.
A statement reportedly delivered to Mr Cleverly, quoted in the Buenos Aires Times, includes an accusation Britian has not reciprocated on aspects of the deal.
It read: “Argentina has sought to collaborate on concrete matters such as flights, scientific activity in Antarctica or conservation and preservation of fishing resources, ‘without the willingness shown by Argentina having been reciprocated by your government’.
“The United Kingdom has continuously carried out unilateral acts, which have been timely and duly protested by the Argentine Republic.
“Throughout this time, the British government has systematically refused to resume the sovereignty negotiations repeatedly urged by the United Nations.”
However, 99.8 percent of the Falkland Islands’ electorate voted in a referendum in March 2013 to remain a British Overseas Territory.
The islands are situated in the south Atlantic, some 400 miles from Soouth America and 850 miles north of the Antarctic.
Falkland Islands Government has been approached for comment.
