A major Argentinian union has whipped up tensions over the Falklands by accusing the UK of acting in an “illegal” and “aggressive” manner.
Buenos Aires has stepped up calls for the British government to hand over the Falklands to Argentina in the wake of the UK’s decision to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Diana Mondino, Argentina’s Foreign Minister, welcomed the British Labour government’s decision and said Buenos Aires would “recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands” – the name used to address the British Overseas Territory in the South American country.
The UK’s decision to cede control over the Chagos Islands has raised fears about the government’s long-term commitment to both the Falklands and Gibraltar.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starrmer, however, sought to reassure the public that no further territorial concessions were on the agenda.
He told parliament earlier this week: “They are British, and they will remain British. It’s personal to me.
“The sovereignty of Gibraltar is equally not going to be negotiated.”
However, his statement provoked a furious response from Argentina’s union the General Confederation of Labour (CGT).
The union’s leadership slammed the UK for its “illegal and imperialist” behaviour.
They also claimed that historical and legal precedents confirmed Argentina’s sovereignty “without any doubt or hesitation” and emphasised that “the illicit usurpation by the British Empire in 1833 does not justify its persistent imperialist attitude.”
Falkland Islands residents overwhelmingly voted to maintain the archipelago a British territory in a referendum held in 2013.
The union also attacked the recent agreement signed between the UK and Argentina, which seeks to build bridges between the two countries.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Ms Mondino agreed to resume flights to the islands, restart negotiations on a humanitarian project plan, and organise a trip for relatives of fallen soldiers to visit war graves.
The CGT argued the deal went against Argentinian national interests and should be immediately cancelled.
“They encourage aggression and provocation from England and allow them to continue violating Argentine national sovereignty,” they said.
The deal was defended by a politician from the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, who said all parties stand to gain from the agreement.
Roger Spink told the Express: “This agreement came after long discussions between the governments of the United Kingdom and Argentina – with the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly heavily involved throughout.
“All parties stand to gain from this cooperation. The humanitarian project to identify Argentine war dead in the Falklands offers an opportunity for closure for the families who lost loved ones.
“Sharing fisheries data enhances resource management in the South Atlantic, which benefits everyone in the region.
“The resumption of the São Paulo to Mount Pleasant flight offers substantial economic benefits.”