Eduardo Skzlarz and Martin Barillas: Tensions Rising between Argentina and UK, but War Unlikely
[Eduardo Skzlarz heads the South America desk of The Cutting Edge News. Senior Contributor Martin Barillas edits www.SperoForum.com.]
Relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom have entered a period of renewed tension since Buenos Aires on February 16 began to restrict the travel of seagoing vessels between the South American republic and the archipelago known to the British as the Falkland Islands. Known to Argentina—and the rest of Latin America—as the Malvinas Islands, the tiny South Atlantic archipelago has long been disputed between the land of tango and Old Blighty and was the subject of a war in 1982. The British easily mopped up the “Argies” in two months: a defeat that hastened the end of the military dictatorship then reigning in Argentina....
The measure taken by Argentina integrates a bilateral dispute that is both political and economic. On the one hand, it is part of continued claims made by the Argentines for sovereignty over the islands, which have been occupied and claimed by the United Kingdom since 1833. However, the decree also reveals the growing interest on the part of Argentina and the United Kingdom in exploring the still unconfirmed deposits of hydrocarbons in waters surrounding the archipelago due to spikes in the international price of petroleum....
While Buenos Aires and London have discarded possible military action, there has been a growing obduracy in discussions between the two. “We want the resolutions of the United Nations to apply to all countries,” said President Fernandez de Kirchner during an official appearance in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. According to the chief executive, there are numerous UN resolutions “among which both countries are called upon and obliged to take up again their conversations on sovereignty” over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands....
Great Britain currently has destroyer HMS York, patrol vessel HMS Clyde, tanker ship RFA Wave Ruler, and four Typhoon aircraft already stationed in the South Atlantic just in case. In addition, Britain also has 1,300 troops stationed on the islands, where sheep outnumber the people (known as “kelpers.”) There are reports that Britain has also sent three more warships to the area; however, this has been denied by the British government. Members of the British parliament have called for Argentina’s ambassador in London to be censured over his government’s actions. Said Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, “Any attempt by Argentina to claim any sort of rights of sovereignty over the region is something we should take very seriously. I don’t think we should appease Buenos Aires—we found out last time what happens when we do that.”...
In Argentina, it is difficult to find anyone who would support any proposed military incursion into the Falklands/Malvinas. The war in 1982 ended the lives of 649 Argentines (most of whom were conscripts who died when the British sank an Argentine naval vessel) and 250 British. The war, masterminded by dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, precipitated the end of the murderous military regime that lasted from 1976 to 1983 and has remained a sore subject for the majority of Argentines. Times have changed: Argentines does not wish to give rise to another such a military adventure. Much more pressing economic issues now confront the country....
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Relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom have entered a period of renewed tension since Buenos Aires on February 16 began to restrict the travel of seagoing vessels between the South American republic and the archipelago known to the British as the Falkland Islands. Known to Argentina—and the rest of Latin America—as the Malvinas Islands, the tiny South Atlantic archipelago has long been disputed between the land of tango and Old Blighty and was the subject of a war in 1982. The British easily mopped up the “Argies” in two months: a defeat that hastened the end of the military dictatorship then reigning in Argentina....
The measure taken by Argentina integrates a bilateral dispute that is both political and economic. On the one hand, it is part of continued claims made by the Argentines for sovereignty over the islands, which have been occupied and claimed by the United Kingdom since 1833. However, the decree also reveals the growing interest on the part of Argentina and the United Kingdom in exploring the still unconfirmed deposits of hydrocarbons in waters surrounding the archipelago due to spikes in the international price of petroleum....
While Buenos Aires and London have discarded possible military action, there has been a growing obduracy in discussions between the two. “We want the resolutions of the United Nations to apply to all countries,” said President Fernandez de Kirchner during an official appearance in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. According to the chief executive, there are numerous UN resolutions “among which both countries are called upon and obliged to take up again their conversations on sovereignty” over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands....
Great Britain currently has destroyer HMS York, patrol vessel HMS Clyde, tanker ship RFA Wave Ruler, and four Typhoon aircraft already stationed in the South Atlantic just in case. In addition, Britain also has 1,300 troops stationed on the islands, where sheep outnumber the people (known as “kelpers.”) There are reports that Britain has also sent three more warships to the area; however, this has been denied by the British government. Members of the British parliament have called for Argentina’s ambassador in London to be censured over his government’s actions. Said Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, “Any attempt by Argentina to claim any sort of rights of sovereignty over the region is something we should take very seriously. I don’t think we should appease Buenos Aires—we found out last time what happens when we do that.”...
In Argentina, it is difficult to find anyone who would support any proposed military incursion into the Falklands/Malvinas. The war in 1982 ended the lives of 649 Argentines (most of whom were conscripts who died when the British sank an Argentine naval vessel) and 250 British. The war, masterminded by dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, precipitated the end of the murderous military regime that lasted from 1976 to 1983 and has remained a sore subject for the majority of Argentines. Times have changed: Argentines does not wish to give rise to another such a military adventure. Much more pressing economic issues now confront the country....