Why do uk want falklands

Spain, which had colonial interests in South America, soon forced them out. Britain, France, and Spain began negotiations, and the British got their bit back. But they soon withdrew to fight the American War of Independence. Spain left in the s too, when their South American colonies began to revolt. Newly-independent Argentina sent a representative to the Falklands.

In , Britain and Argentina broke diplomatic relations over the Islands issue. The U. In , the UN passed a resolution to try and get Britain and Argentina to resolve the issue through peaceful negotiation. It didn't work. Later, all hell broke loose. Diplomatic relations were finally restored in In total, the Falklands War lasted 10 weeks and saw Brits, Argentinians and three native Falklanders killed.

Its grand gesture had spectacularly backfired. No such qualms were evident at The Sun. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Recommended Families able to visit Falklands War graves after remains identified. When peace talks failed, Ronald Reagan supported his British ally, as Jackson had done in the s and Louis Vernet eventually did, possibly in search of compensation from London. In the British taskforce that retook the islands did so under the UN charter, exercising the right of self-defence against an unpopular and brutal regime in Buenos Aires whose neighbours feared it.

Feelings are very different in in a region that is richer, more confident and assertive, hence the support for the boycott of Falkland-flagged ships. States abound with anomalies, none odder than British retention of the Channel Islands, the last remnant of William the Conquerer's Duchy of Normandy. Just a few miles off the French coast, it has survived countless wars and defeats for both sides, as well as German occupation.

French names or not, the islanders seem happy to regard themselves as a British dependency. Gibraltar is another such anomaly, as are Spain's own Moroccan enclaves.

So Whitehall can play the self-determination card, also a powerful one at the UN, which recent reports suggest has some resonance among Argentinians who understand that the Falkland Islands' ingrained habits — fish and chips and all — are deeply British.

A flavour of the mood can be found easily on the Falkland Islands government website here. London says it never accepted the pope's authority over territorial disputes in Tudor times, or now.

But what about the Treaty of Utrecht? That related only to settled land, comes the reply. Britain's early claim is strong and, if Britain abandoned the islands in , so did the future Argentine republic in London has provided settlement and support without a break since , including long periods in both 19th and 20th centuries when Buenos Aires' claims went quiet.

In truth, both sides have some substantial points, enough to keep diplomats busy and the military planners anxious — both sides are weaker militarily than they were. Since this time, British administration has remained unbroken apart from a ten week Argentine occupation in Argentine and British Governments were called upon to negotiate a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute, bringing the issue to international attention formally for the first time.

Argentine troops occupied the Islands for ten weeks before being defeated by the British. The Argentines surrendered on 14 June, now known as Liberation Day. Marking an important milestone in the history of the Falkland Islands, the new Constitution provides enhanced local democracy and internal self-government, and enshrines the right of self-determination.

Falkland Islanders voted to determine their future, Follow us on Twitter! Our History. Our History The Falkland Islands had no indigenous population prior to their settlement by our ancestors— the Islands were entirely unoccupied. Please get in touch by email by clicking on this link.