President Javier Milei plans to deliver a ‘Cadena Nacional’ nationwide broadcast on Thursday during which he will reportedly outline details of the “diplomatic progress” his government has made over Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands.
News of the broadcast was confirmed by government sources to at least two media outlets on Tuesday. It came after Milei chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Casa Rosada with most of his top-line officials.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could review its position over the British-controlled archipelago, which Argentina claims as its own.
"I always review every position. That's just one of many," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if the United States was reviewing its position on the islands.
Trump’s comment came in the wake of media reports claiming that Washington had threatened to withdraw its support for Britain's sovereignty claim if London does not increase defence spending.
The proposal concerning the South Atlantic archipelago, over which Britain and Argentina went to war in 1982, was among measures being drawn up by the Pentagon to incentivise NATO allies to meet spending pledges, The Daily Telegraph reported last week.
Washington currently recognises Britain's de facto administration of the islands but maintains a neutral position on the competing sovereignty claims.
The US State Department told the AFP news agency in April when the first reports emerged of a possible review that "our position on The Islands remains one of neutrality."
But the Pentagon review could give Britain "special attention", including the possibility of Washington opposing its sovereignty claim outright, The Telegraph reported.
Earlier Tuesday, Milei said he would discuss Trump’s remarks at a Cabinet meeting of officials.
“We are going to review what is happening on the international stage; yesterday something very significant took place regarding the most important and sacred cause we Argentines have,” Milei said in conversation with the El Observador radio station.
Argentina has long called for negotiations with Britain over the islands' sovereignty, while London rejects negotiations on sovereignty and maintains that the islanders' right to self-determination must be respected.
Four decades after the conflict, tensions are still high between Britain and Argentina.
Argentina players held up a banner saying "The Malvinas are Argentine" after beating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final earlier this year. FIFA later fined the Argentine Football Association US$321,000.
Argentine forces invaded the islands in April 1982, prompting then-British prime minister Margaret Thatcher to send a naval task force to retake them.
The war left 649 Argentines, 255 Britons and three islanders dead.
Then-US president Ronald Reagan initially sought to maintain a neutral position and attempted to mediate between the two sides, but Washington ultimately provided Britain with military and intelligence support after diplomatic efforts failed.
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, commenting on Trump’s remarks during an interview with the Infobae news website on Tuesday, said Trump’s remarks did not alter Argentina’s position.
Argentina cannot “depend on anyone” in its claim to sovereignty over the islands, argued the official.
“We do not act on matters over which we have no control; we act on matters that we do control,” said Quirno.
“We are clear that the solution is diplomatic; we are clear that we must make as much progress as possible on that front, through the various forums, with the support of different countries,” he continued. “We must do our homework to increase our chances of Argentina’s legitimate claim to sovereignty being heard.”
– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL
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