The United Kingdom reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands on Friday, saying its position was “unwavering” after Argentine President Javier Milei renewed his claim to the disputed territory and vowed tougher measures against oil companies operating there.
“The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders,” Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on X.
He added that the islanders’ right to self-determination was “paramount,” grounded in international law, and that Britain would “resolutely uphold it.”
According to the BBC, Downing Street said UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham “fully supports the wishes of the islanders to remain a British overseas territory.”
Asked whether Britain had the military capacity to defend the islands, a spokesperson said that British armed forces were on standby around the clock to protect the UK and its interests and that the islands would remain British “so far as the islanders wish.”
