The new Argentine government has refused the visit of a senior British official, claiming that the restoration of Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands is a crucial national policy.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing discontent with the visit of David Rutley, the British Under-Secretary of State for the Americas, the Caribbean, and Overseas Territories, to the islands.
Argentina argued that the visit would happen “in the context of the illegal British occupation of the Malvinas, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas”.
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These territories, considered integral to Argentine national territory, are subject to a sovereignty dispute recognised by the United Nations.
The Argentine government reiterated that the “recovery of the full exercise of sovereignty” over these territories is enshrined as a state policy in its Constitution.
Argentina has once again called on the United Kingdom to engage in sovereignty negotiations in accordance with UN resolution 2065(XX) and other resolutions of the General Assembly and its Special Committee on Decolonisation.
Guillermo Carmona, Secretary for Malvinas, Antarctica, and the South Atlantic, also expressed displeasure at Rutley’s visit, saying: “The Argentine Foreign Ministry rejected the visit to the Malvinas by the Under-Secretary for the Americas, the Caribbean, and Overseas Territories of the Foreign Office, David Rutley.”
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Carmona added: “He will represent the UK at Milei’s presidential inauguration. It’s not a joke, it’s a provocation.”
Rutley himself congratulated Javier Milei, leader of La Libertad Avanza, after his victory in Argentina’s run-off election on November 19.
“Congratulations to Milei on his election as the next President of Argentina,” Rutley wrote on social media.
“The UK looks forward to developing a constructive relationship with you and your team in the coming months.”
However, after the economist’s victory, the UK reiterated that sovereignty over the Malvinas “is settled and will not change.”
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