Argentina's government has reiterated its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom in regards to a sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina knows as the Malvinas and has long claimed sovereignty over.
The statement by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno was in response to comments from a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and said that sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the US position on the Falklands.
"The Argentine Republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom that will allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which they are immersed," Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said in a post on social media.
US President Donald Trump has harshly criticised NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping following the start of the air war on Iran on February 28.
While the Pentagon memo floats suspending Spain from NATO, it also includes an option to consider reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European "imperial possessions," such as the Falkland Islands near Argentina.
1982 war
The State Department's website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina.
Argentina President Javier Milei was upbeat about the prospects.
"We are doing everything humanly possible so that the Argentine Malvinas, the islands, the entire territory return to the hands of Argentina," Milei said in a radio interview he posted on his X account on Friday.
"We're making progress like never before."
Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them.
Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the sovereignty of the islands rests with Britain.
"Sovereignty rests with the UK and the islands' right to self-determination is paramount. It's been our consistent position and will remain the case," the spokesperson told reporters on Friday.
