Falklands War hero Simon Weston has dismissed Argentinian President Javier Milei's claims to the islands as "ridiculous" and "empty words." Weston, who suffered severe burns when his ship, the Sir Galahad, was struck by a missile during the 1982 conflict, stated that Argentina's current assertions "mean absolutely nothing."
"The Argentine navy is mainly where we left it, at the bottom of the sea," Weston told the BBC. "They haven't invested in their army. They've bought some jets from Denmark but I don't think they are going to use force." He added that while Milei has stated Argentina will not resort to force, "he could change his position overnight."
Weston also criticized Milei's assertion that "winds of change" favored Argentina's claim, calling it "just rhetoric – he's sabre-rattling again, unsettling the Islanders, but playing to the crowd." He pointed to Argentina's ongoing economic crisis, noting that it was the cause of the 1982 invasion and that "nothing has changed."
Milei's proposed sanctions on oil companies were also deemed "ridiculous" by Weston, as he believes these firms "haven't got a footprint" in Argentina. The veteran's comments come as Argentinian President Javier Milei has insisted he will "act swiftly" to "recover" the Falkland Islands, which he claims belong to Argentina by law and historical precedent.
Military experts concur that Argentina lacks the capacity to retake the Falklands by force. The presence of a British military garrison, including RAF Typhoon jets and the Sky Sabre air defence system, provides a robust defense. The closest Argentinian airfields are 300 nautical miles away, and its air and naval forces do not possess sufficient refuelling capabilities to sustain attacks with its recently acquired F-16 fighter jets. Six of these jets arrived in Argentina in November of the previous year, with 18 more expected by 2028.
Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe stated that an Argentinian invasion is not feasible in the near future due to a lack of logistical support. He recalled that in 1982, Argentina had the aircraft carrier General Belgrano, which it no longer possesses, and that the military junta's gamble for a quick operation did not succeed. Sharpe does not believe they would attempt such a move again. The 1982 conflict resulted in the deaths of 255 British servicemen.