Kathmandu. A decades-old dispute between Argentina and Britain has flared up again after US President Donald Trump signaled a possible review of long-standing US policy on the Falkland Islands (known as 'Malvinas' in Argentina). Argentine President Javier Millei has reasserted his country's claim to the islands, announcing plans to impose tough sanctions on companies drilling for oil near the Falklands.
In a speech on Thursday night, Miley claimed the Falkland Islands "historically and legally belong to Argentina". According to him, recently there have been signs of change in the international situation in favor of Argentina's claim.
The Falkland Islands have been under British control since 1833. There was even a war between Argentina and Britain in 1982 over its sovereignty. 645 Argentine and 255 British soldiers died in that battle.
A new controversy over oil extraction
Miley described oil projects operating off the coast of the Falklands as a "concrete and immediate threat" to Argentina. Israeli company Navitas Petroleum and British company Rockhopper Exploration are involved in the project.
According to Miley, the companies are moving towards the oil extraction phase, but Argentina's permission has not been obtained. He has put forward a plan to amend the law and impose a strict ban on the business of providing services to companies involved in hydrocarbon extraction.
He has warned that if Argentina does not act now, within months the company will have the physical capacity to extract oil from the seabed.
But the companies involved in the oil project said that their activities will not be affected by the latest political developments. They say they have valid permits issued by the Falkland Islands government and have continued support from the UK.
Britain's strong response
Britain has responded immediately to Argentina's new move. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said Britain's commitment to the Falklands is "unwavering".
He said that the Falkland Islands' right to self-determination is based on international law and that the islands are British and will remain so.
The Falkland Islands are one of the UK's 14 overseas territories. The island operates its own tax system, but is dependent on Britain for defense and foreign policy.
Trump's expression increased the enthusiasm of Argentina
American President Trump, in an interview with the British media GB News on Thursday, did not give a clear answer to the question whether the United States would militarily support the United Kingdom in the event of another war between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falklands.
Referring to the 1982 war, Trump praised Britain's military operations to retake the island. But he did not make a clear commitment to US support in another potential conflict, saying the Falklands were too far away.
He also repeated his complaint that Britain did not provide enough support in the latest bombing campaign by the US against Iran. Although Britain was not a direct participant in the war, it allowed American aircraft to use its military bases.
Trump's latest comments have been welcomed by Miley as a sign of a possible change in US policy towards Argentina. He has claimed that the US may reconsider its old policy on the Falklands as it sees Argentina as a reliable partner.
Disputes over the right to self-determination
Falklands residents overwhelmingly voted to remain under British rule in a 2013 referendum. More than 99 percent of those who voted voted to remain with Britain.
But Miley has argued that Falkland residents do not have a legitimate right to sovereign self-determination. According to him, the argument in favor of British sovereignty based on the referendum on the island is not valid.
The wounds of the 1982 war are still fresh
The Falklands dispute remains a sensitive issue in Argentine politics. In 1982, after the then Argentine military government sent troops to the island, Britain re-established control through military action.
Almost four decades later, the memory of that war is still deep in Argentine society. After Argentina defeated England in this year's World Cup, the emotional side of the controversy was also exposed when the Argentine players displayed a banner with the message "Malvinas are from Argentina".
Thus, Trump's ambiguous statements, oil exploration around the Falklands and the Milli government's new sanctions plan have brought the old sovereignty dispute in the South Atlantic back to the center of international diplomatic debate.
