LONDON (AP) — British Overseas Secretary David Cameron on Monday toured battle websites of the Falklands Conflict throughout a go to meant to underline that the Falkland Islands are a “valued a part of the British household.”
The go to by Cameron — the primary British international secretary to make the journey to the South Atlantic archipelago in three a long time — got here amid renewed calls by Argentina for negotiations over the contested territory.
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Cameron mentioned he hoped that the islands would want to stay a part of the British “household” without end.
“So long as the Falkland Islands wish to be a part of the U.Ok. household they’re completely welcome to be a part of that household and we are going to help them and again them and assist defend and defend them completely, so far as I’m involved, for so long as they need,” he mentioned. “And I hope that’s for a really, very very long time, probably without end.”
The politician was taken on a helicopter tour of the islands and stopped at two battle websites within the 1982 Falklands Conflict. He additionally visited a cemetery and paid respects to the battle lifeless.
The islands, which lie about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from South America and eight,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from Britain, have lengthy been a supply of pressure between Argentina and the U.Ok.
Argentina argues that the islands have been illegally taken from it in 1833. Britain, which says its territorial declare dates to 1765, despatched a warship to the islands in 1833 to expel Argentine forces who had sought to determine sovereignty over the territory.
Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a two-month battle, received by Britain, that killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen and three islanders.
Islanders voted overwhelmingly in a 2013 referendum to stay a British Abroad Territory.
Argentina’s lately elected President Javier Milei has known as for the islands — often known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina — to be handed over to Buenos Aires.
Cameron mentioned the U.Ok.’s relationship with the Argentine authorities “won’t ever be on the expense of the desires of the Falkland Islanders, who in our view completely come first.”
Britain’s Overseas Workplace mentioned that the 2 international locations “would comply with disagree, and achieve this politely” over the problem.
The final British international secretary to go to the Falklands was Douglas Hurd in 1994.
