Argentine President Javier Milei has intensified tensions with the United Kingdom by calling for a Hong Kong-style handover of the Falklands to Argentina, framing it as a "consensus solution." The remarks, published in an interview with The Economist, followed a nationalistic televised address where Milei announced plans to establish a new military base in Tierra del Fuego, the closest point of mainland Argentina to the disputed archipelago. He also issued a warning that sanctions would be imposed on companies engaged in offshore oil drilling in the waters surrounding the Falklands.
Milei stated that Argentines "do not believe in war" and would not resort to aggressive rhetoric regarding the islands. He cited the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which led to the UK's transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997, as a precedent for resolving the Falklands dispute. "The UK did this with Hong Kong, so why not find the agreement so that sooner or later the islands return to Argentina? They're ours," Milei commented.
In his televised address, Milei asserted that "the islands are ours, by history and by right, and they were taken from us." He also suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump might be supportive of Argentina's claim, hinting that the U.S. could re-evaluate its historic neutrality on the issue. Milei indicated that Trump had suggested he would not back Britain in a renewed conflict, citing the UK's perceived lack of support for a U.S. military action in Iran.
Argentine officials also emphasized diplomatic, economic, judicial, and legal means to impede drilling in the Sea Lion oilfield, which is estimated to contain 1.7 billion barrels of oil. The construction of a naval base on Tierra del Fuego was also announced via an emergency decree.
The UK's Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, rejected Milei's claims, stating that "Milei's statement overnight tells us more about domestic politics in Argentina than it does about the Falkland Islands. The Falklands are British because Falkland Islanders choose to be British. Our commitment to the Falklands is absolute and unshakeable."
Senior minister Lucy Powell suggested that Milei was "simply posturing" ahead of upcoming elections in Argentina. However, former Foreign Office chief Lord McDonald advised the Labour government to reconsider its Falklands policy and engage in diplomatic talks with Argentina, citing the cost of defending the islands and their distance from the UK.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the Argentine president's stance and linked it to the UK government's plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. She stated, "Javier Milei claims to admire Margaret Thatcher, but forgets this lesson: Britain does not surrender to bullies. If he wants a stronger Argentina, he should build its economy, not threaten others."