Britain slaps down Argentina after blast at Royal Navy for opening fire off Falklands
BRITAIN today slapped down Argentine complaints about a “provocative” live-firing military exercise off the Falklands.
Argentina has long claimed the Falklands and in 1982 its murderous military junta invaded and occupied the islands.
But its forces were defeated and ejected by a Royal Navy-led Task Force at a cost of the lives of 255 British personnel, three Falkland Islanders and about 650 Argentine troops.
Since the invasion Britain has maintained a military presence with troops and warplanes backed up by a Royal Navy warship.
In the exercise three weeks ago HMS Iron Duke, which is on a six-month Atlantic patrol, worked alongside the Islands’ Roulement Infantry Company and 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery.
But Argentina, which calls the islands the Malvinas, yesterday called in Mr Barlow to hand him a formal letter of protest.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry described the exercise as “further provocation on the part of the United Kingdom Government in an attempt to demonstrate the British warship’s firepower”.
The statement said: “The exercises also involved a British infantry company which is part of the permanent illegal military occupation of the Malvinas Islands.
“The Argentine Republic rejects in the strongest possible terms the execution of naval and military exercises in an Argentine territory that is illegally occupied by the UK. This act constitutes an unjustified show of force.”
It added: “The UK’s persistence in performing military exercises in the South Atlantic - declared a zone of peace by coastal states in the region, who have also prohibited nuclear weapons in the area - constitutes further proof of a systematic policy to entirely disregard UN resolutions.”
The protest came four days after Argentina won the backing of a South American organisation, Mercorsur, over its criticism of Britain’s military presence in the South Atlantic.
The Falkland Islanders, some of whose families have lived there for 180 years, have repeatedly stated their wish to remain British.
Last year voted they voted unanimously to remain a UK Overseas Territory in a referendum.
And today an MoD spokesperson said the Iron Duke exercise was part of regular routine training on and around the islands.
He said: “Royal Navy warships undertake regular training in the use of their weapon systems.
“The gun fire exercise conducted by HMS Iron Duke in the Falkland Islands took place some weeks ago in October and was part of a routine training schedule planned long in advance.
“There is no change to the UK’s defence posture in the South Atlantic.”
