British ambassador congratulates Fernández on election win

Britain's Ambassador to Argentina has offered his congratulations to President-Elect Alberto Fernández on his election victory and says he is ready to continue improving bilateral relations. 

The message comes in the wake of multiple reports suggesting Fernández is considering reviewing Argentina’s existing bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom.

In a post on Twitter, Downing Street's representative in Buenos Aires congratulated Argentina's voters on the election and the Frente de Todos candidate for his win.

"Congratulations to the Argentine people for this democratic election. And to @alferdez for the result obtained," wrote Kent. "We are ready to work with your government to continue expanding relations between the United Kingdom and Argentina."

The Frente de Todos frontrunner broke his silence over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands in the recent second presidential debate in Santa Fe, when he vowed to tackle what he sees as perceived lack of progress over the sovereignty dispute under the Mauricio Macri administration. He would seek changes “in memory of the soldiers,” he told viewers.

This pledge could apparently extend to reviewing all bilateral agreements between Argentina and Britain, according to reports, should the opinion polls prove correct and he emerge triumphant on October 27. 

“During these years the government was very busy trading with Britain and forgot about our sovereignty over the Malvinas. But we will insist again. In memory of those soldiers, I’ll make sure things are different,” exclaimed Fernández in the first part of the debate dedicated to international relations, identifying the issue as a foreign policy priority should he reach government. 

The former Cabinet chief alleged the Macri administration had “forgot” about Argentina’s fallen soldiers.

"International relations are not about taking photographs with leaders," criticised Fernández.

The Peronist hopeful is reportedly evaluating a review of the 1989 Madrid agreement, signed by then-president Carlos Menem, that restored relations between the two countries on the basis of placing the sovereignty debate under an “umbrella” and advancing on other bilateral fronts.

This review of the Anglo-Argentine agreements in recent years will also include the 2016 Duncan-Foradori communiqué, which Mauricio Macri and Theresa May expanded during the G20 Leaders Summit in Buenos Aires. That deal paved the way for an advancement in trade with Britain as well as cooperation in other areas, such as security, science and technology.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be reviewing British representation at the inauguration of the next president on December 10. 

– TIMES/PERFIL