US, Israel help shape Argentina’s Falklands claim

Argentine President Javier Milei has restated Argentina’s claim to the islands, saying the “winds of change” favour the country.

He has also threatened sanctions against oil companies planning to drill in Falkland waters Argentina has renewed its claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as Las Islas Malvinas, while US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington is reviewing its traditional position of neutrality on the dispute.

The developments have added a new diplomatic dimension to a sovereignty dispute that dates back more than two centuries and led to war between Argentina and Britain in 1982.

What is happening now?
Argentine President Javier Milei has restated Argentina’s claim to the islands, saying the “winds of change” favour the country. He has also threatened sanctions against oil companies planning to drill in Falkland waters.

Milei has described Argentina’s position on sovereignty as “non-negotiable” and said: “We need to recover these islands which are nationally relevant.”

In a statement on X, he wrote: “The Malvinas were, are, and will always be argentine”.

Trump has said he is reviewing the traditional US position of neutrality regarding UK sovereignty over the islands. Asked whether the United States was reviewing its position, Trump told reporters at the White House: “I always review every position – that’s just one of many… The UK’s got some problems, but they’ll get solved.”

The possible shift comes amid broader diplomatic and military friction between Washington and London over UK defence commitments, including the war on Iran.

Why do Argentina and Britain dispute the islands?
The Falkland Islands lie roughly 500 km off Argentina’s coast. The archipelago consists of two main islands and nearly 800 smaller ones.

Britain made an initial landing in 1690, followed by a French landing in 1764 and a Spanish landing in 1770. Argentina formalised its claim in 1820 after gaining independence from Spain.

Britain forcibly reoccupied the islands in 1833 and has held them since.
Argentina incorporated its claim to the Falklands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands into its constitution in 1994.

The islanders overwhelmingly rejected Argentine sovereignty in a 2013 referendum, with 99.8% voting to remain a British territory.

What happened in the 1982 war?
Argentina’s military dictatorship under Leopoldo Galtieri invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a war with Britain that resulted in more than 900 deaths.

One of the most controversial incidents was the sinking of the Argentine warship General Belgrano outside the exclusion zone.

Britain ultimately defeated Argentina. The defeat contributed to the collapse of Argentina’s military junta, while Britain expanded its military presence at Mount Pleasant.

Why are the islands strategically important?
The islands give Britain access to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and offshore mineral rights.

Fishing, particularly squid fishing, is central to the islands’ economy, alongside tourism. The territory has around 3,600 residents, most of them of British descent.

Oil has also become an important element of the dispute. In 2010, Britain granted drilling rights to a UK-Israeli consortium for a large deepwater oil field north of the islands. Production is expected to begin in 2028 and the field is estimated to yield about $4 billion.

What role does Israel play?
Milei maintains close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Right-wing Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, who were sanctioned by Britain in 2025, have publicly endorsed Argentina’s sovereignty claim, as has Netanyahu’s son Yair.

Israel also has a historical connection to the dispute. It sold arms and military aircraft to Argentina during and after the 1982 war, and the equipment was used against British ships and troops.

Declassified files show that Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin used the arms sales as leverage against British arms sales to hostile Arab states.
Yair Netanyahu has supported Argentina’s position, saying: “Britain is currently a hostile country and Argentina is a friendly country”.

What could a US policy change mean?
The United States has traditionally maintained a neutral position on the sovereignty dispute.

A move away from that position in favour of Argentina would affect relations between Washington and London and could raise questions about wider US commitments to its allies, including under Nato’s Article 5.

The issue also comes as Washington and London face broader disagreements over defence commitments.

Trump has previously used territorial recognition as part of diplomatic negotiations.

In 2020, the United States recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco normalising relations with Israel.

Could the dispute face greater international pressure?

Argentina’s position could also gain greater international attention through the United Nations.

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi is a candidate in the election for UN secretary-general. His candidacy could contribute to greater international pressure for bilateral negotiations over the islands’ sovereignty.

For Argentina, the renewed campaign centres on its longstanding constitutional claim and control of territory and surrounding resources. For Britain, the dispute concerns a territory whose residents voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain British.

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