Argentina decries UK military operations in the Falkland Islands

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “Argentina rejects in the strongest terms the carrying out of military maneuvers, and the launching of missiles in particular, in Argentine territory illegitimately occupied by the United Kingdom,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Complaint to the United Nations

For the government of President Alberto Fernández, these maneuvers constitute an “unjustified show of force and a deliberate departure from the calls” of the numerous resolutions of the United Nations and other international organizations that urge Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations on the sovereignty of the islands.

According to the communiqué, the British Foreign Office informed the Argentine embassy in London that in the next few days, the United Kingdom will carry out military exercises in the Falklands area, including the launching of Rapier missiles. Immediately after receiving this communication, Buenos Aires sent a note of protest to the British government.

In it, the Argentine government remarked that the persistence of the United Kingdom in carrying out military exercises in the South Atlantic contravenes the United Nations resolution, which urges both parties to refrain from adopting “unilateral decisions that imply the introduction of modifications in the situation while the islands are going through the negotiation process” recommended by the organization.

According to Argentina, the military presence in the area and the launching of missiles also contradict another UN resolution that especially urges “militarily significant” states to “scrupulously” respect the South Atlantic region as a zone of peace and cooperation, in particular by reducing and eventually eliminating their military presence in that region.

“In that sense, the alleged defensive status of the British military base in the South Atlantic is not only totally unjustified but also represents a threat to the entire region,” the Argentine government said.

Read: Falklands – Argentine government said to consider rescinding diplomatic agreements with the UK

On the other hand, Argentina stated that, within the framework of the obligations regarding the safety of navigation in the Southwest Atlantic, once the precise information on the date of the missile launch is available, the Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service will issue a nautical radio warning informing about the development of the military exercise.

The Argentine Government advised that it will denounce the situation before the United Nations General Secretariat and before the International Maritime Organization.

Source: EFE