Argentina‘s government says it will launch an investigation after officials from the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs displayed a map of the country without the Falkland Islands, the British Overseas Territory Buenos Aires lays a sovereignty claim on.
The map was shown by officials as they addressed a seminar on mining activities and investments, attended by representatives from a number of countries including the UK.
According to reports, the absence of the Falklands from the map has sparked anger in Argentina.
Argentina’s government has since said the map was a mistake and that they will investigate to find who was responsible.
José Luis Vila, Secretary of Strategic Affairs of the Cabinet Chief’s Office, told Infobae while referring to the Falklands by the name used for the archipelago in Argentina, that “two maps were projected and one omitted the Malvinas Islands.”
He continued: “What happened is my responsibility and affects me as much as everyone else. There is no policy to omit the Malvinas Islands. It was an error and we will investigate what happened and then decide what measures will be taken with those responsible.”
This comes after a statement from the Office of Strategic Affairs which read: “In one of the maps used on that occasion intended to show provinces that adhered or not to RIGI, it was later found to be an incomplete version where due to an involuntary failure, the Malvinas Islands were not included.
“This was not noticed at that moment by presenters as they were facing away from the screen. On another note, a second map shown during that day did include them.
“Despite this involuntary error being immediately corrected by sending out correct versions electronically to attendees, we regret it has been used for drawing false conclusions or making low-level political speculations about Malvinas Cause which should unite all Argentines.”
Argentine politician Esteban Paulón raged at the map error. He said: “It’s shameful that in their eagerness to attract foreign investments—which do not come due to lack of trust—the government throws away Malvinas cause whose sovereignty claim is non-negotiable as established by our Constitution. It’s another sign of a government increasingly detached from national sentiment.
“Printing this map of Argentina without Malvinas Islands supposedly not ‘to offend’ foreign investors clearly shows another link in chain abandoning the cause by Javier Milei’s government including recent authorisation by Foreign Minister Diana Mondino for flights to islands.”
Argentinians still refer to the Falklands as the Malvinas, and the government in Buenos Aires disputes Britain’s sovereignty over the archipelago.
In May, Argentine President Javier Milei said he accepts the Falkland Islands are currently “in the hands of the UK”.
But he added that he wants the islands to become Argentine “within the framework of peace”.
Mr Milei told the BBC: “We are not going to relinquish our sovereignty, nor are we going to seek conflict with the United Kingdom.”