UK reaffirms sovereignty over Falkland Islands after report of US "review"

The United Kingdom has reiterated that sovereignty over the Falkland Islands “rests with the UK,” following reports suggesting the United States could review its position on Britain’s claim to the South Atlantic territory.

A Downing Street spokesman on April 24 said: “The Falkland Islands have hugely voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we've always stood behind the islanders' right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK," BBC reports. 

The comments came after an internal Pentagon email, reported by Reuters, suggested Washington was considering options to pressure NATO allies it believed had not supported its stance on a war involving Iran. The document also mentioned the possibility of seeking Spain’s suspension from NATO over its opposition. 

The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a long-standing sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina. Previous US administrations have recognised Britain’s de facto administration of the islands, while avoiding a formal position on sovereignty.

A Downing Street spokesman added: “The prime minister's official spokesman also said the government ‘could not be clearer about the UK's position’, and that ‘sovereignty rests with the UK and the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount’. He continued: ‘We've expressed this position previously clearly and consistently to successive US administrations and nothing is going to change that.’”

The Falkland Islands government also responded, stating: “The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination.”

Political reactions in the UK were swift. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the reported US stance on the Falkland Islands was “absolute nonsense”, adding: “We need to make sure that we back the Falklands. They are British territory.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also rejected any suggestion of debate on the issue, saying: “This is utterly non-negotiable. There is no way we're even going to have a debate about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.” He added that he would raise the matter with Argentine President Javier Milei during a planned meeting later this year.

By Sabina Mammadli