Falklands shock: How Argentina planned to use Brexit to take back Islands

FALKLAND ISLANDS disputes never disappeared after Britain successfully defended the archipelago after the war with Argentina in 1982, and now as Brexit negotiations have taken the UK into another general election, it appears that politicians in Buenos Aires have long been praying for a no deal withdrawal from the EU to "enhance" their claim over the territory.

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The current Foreign Minister in Mauricio Macri's departing Argentine government, Jorge Faurie, made the shocking claim after speaking to former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in 2018. Speaking to The Telegraph in October 2018, Mr Fauri said Argentina plans to “have a negotiation that will enable stronger relations between the people on the and the people on the Continent and we hope that the non-Brexit [no-deal] solution will enhance the possibility of that dialogue to be truly one with the results".

He continued: “If you think member states would not sustain the Malvinas [Falklands] claim in favour of the UK, we are there … to talk, to negotiate, to see what would be the best solution for the people in the islands to be much more in touch with Argentina.”

But this Brexit-inspired Falklands plot appears to have been in the pipeline since before Mr Fauri made his statement in 2018, as a year before, the former Argentinian Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said Buenos Aires was following the Brexit negotiations "carefully" to see if the UK lost European support for its control of the Falklands.

In a statement made in response to Mr Fauri, the Foreign Office said: “There is no question of changing the status of the Falklands post Brexit.

Falklands news:

Falklands news: Argentina are hoping the UK leaves with no deal (Image: getty)

Falklands news:

Falklands news: Argentine departing President Macri (Image: getty)

"The UK government has been clear that our overseas territories, including the Falklands, will retain their current relationship with the UK after we leave the .”

Argentina's recent elections saw Macri's government make way for Peronist Alberto Fernandez, who made reclamation of the Falklands one of his big election pledges.

This is likely to be a difficult ambition to fulfil however, as the archipelago is currently recognised as UK territory and Argentina's own constitution states that force cannot be used in any sovereignty claim.

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Falklands news:

Falklands news: Argentina have not given up their Islands claim (Image: getty)

It reads: “The Argentine Nation ratifies its legitimate and non-prescribing sovereignty over the Malvinas, Georgias del Sur and Sandwich del Sur Islands and over the corresponding maritime and insular zones, as they are an integral part of the National territory.

“The recovery of said territories and the full exercise of sovereignty, respectful of the way of life of their inhabitants and according to the principles of international law, are a permanent and unrelinquished goal of the Argentine people.”

This would leave only political paths to changing the Island's status.

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Falklands news:

Falklands news: The Falklands War took place in 1982 (Image: getty)

Falklands news:

Falklands news: Johnson will be hoping that the election will give him increased support for his deal (Image: getty)

In April 1982, Argentine troops invaded the Islands, but capitulated 74 days later to the British forces, with the death toll as a result of the war a devastating 649 – of which 255 soldiers were from the UK.

A referendum was held in 2013 that saw 99.8 percent of Falklands residents vote to remain under British rule.

Just three of the 1,571 voters said they wanted to be under Argentine rule.

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