British sovereignty over the Falklands is an absurd imperial hangover that must end | Simon Jenkins
GuardianApr 07, 2022
UK Vows to Protect Falkland Islands
The Facts
UK Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron declared on Monday that the UK will "protect and defend" the Falkland Islands for as long as residents of the region wish to remain a British Overseas Territory, as he attended a wreath-laying ceremony in Stanley.
Cameron’s visit to the Falklands, which comes as part of a wider tour to South America that includes stops in Paraguay and Brazil, is the first trip to the territory by a foreign minister since 1994, and the first by a member of Cabinet since 2016.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
It is unacceptable that London still holds a grudge against Buenos Aires decades after hostilities took place. Carrying on this imperial-era dispute that could have been solved without an economically and ethically costly war is unjust and nonsensical. The Falkland Islands remain fully independent of Britain, and it is about time to strike a deal with Argentina and return sovereignty to its inhabitants.
Pro-establishment narrative
Islanders, who overwhelmingly voted to remain British decades after facing heinous aggression from Argentina, have the right to self-determination under the UN charter — it is the UK's duty to uphold it and defend them in the face of further threats. Aside from moral obligation, it is in the UK's interest to continue with its commitment to the archipelago as it is located in a strategically significant position in the South Atlantic.
Nerd narrative
There's a 3% chance that Argentina will invade the Falkland Islands again before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.