The British government has denied Argentine claims that it is in negotiations with Buenos Aires to lift a weapons ban imposed since the Falklands War. This comes amid President Milei’s desire to wrest control of the controversial islands.
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that the South American nation has begun talks with London to lift arms export restrictions.
A British government spokesperson firmly denied the claims in a statement to AFP, declaring, “There are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls.
“The Falkland Islands—a self-governing British Overseas Territory with a population of just over 3,400—lie roughly 13,000 km (8,000 miles) from London and only about 480 km (300 miles) off Argentina’s coast.
In 1982, Britain dispatched a military task force to recapture the islands after Argentine forces invaded and asserted sovereignty, sparking a 74-day conflict that ended with an Argentine surrender.
Britain has a policy of continuing “to refuse licences for export and trade of goods judged to enhance Argentine military capability”, according to the government’s website.
Milei told the Telegraph “absolutely” when asked if negotiations to allow the sale of weapons with British components to Argentina had begun.
The British government’s statement said that PM Keir Starmer’s administration was interested in discussions on other areas.
“More broadly, we look forward to deepening our co-operation with Argentina across areas including trade, science, and culture to deliver growth for the British people,” it said.
Milei told the paper he is set to become the first Argentinian president to visit the UK since 1998, with plans for a trip in April or May next year.
However, Milei also said he wanted to see the Falkland Islands handed over to Argentina through diplomatic means.
“Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, and we will defend its right to self-determination,” said the UK government statement.
The UK has long maintained that the Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, with a history of continuous British administration dating back to 1833.
The UK points out that the islanders themselves have repeatedly made their wishes clear. In a 2013 referendum, an overwhelming 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to remain under British sovereignty, with turnout at nearly 92%.
For London, this self-determination vote is the decisive factor, and the government says it will respect the islanders’ clear preference to stay British.
Falkland Tensions
The Falkland Islands have long been a flashpoint between the United Kingdom and Argentina. This tension erupted in 1982, leading to a British arms embargo on Argentina that remains in effect to this day.
Prior to the 1982 war, the UK and Argentina maintained stable economic and diplomatic ties, including arms sales. In the late 1970s, under Argentina’s military junta, London exported weapons and military equipment to the South American nation, despite concerns over human rights.
A 2012 report by Debt Justice revealed that Argentina still owed the UK for arms deals from that era, highlighting the irony of the pre-war alliance.
These sales included items like warships and aircraft components, which were used against British forces during the invasion.
The embargo’s origins trace directly to the Falklands War, which erupted on April 2, 1982, when Argentine forces invaded the islands—known as the Malvinas in Argentina—claiming historical sovereignty.
The UK, under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dispatched a naval task force to seize the territory. The 74-day conflict resulted in 255 British deaths, 649 Argentine fatalities, and significant destruction.
During the war, the UK rallied international support, leading to across-the-board sanctions. The European Community imposed economic measures, including arms embargoes, at the UK’s behest.
France, a key ally of Buenos Aires, suspended arms sales and assistance to Argentina, while the US provided intelligence support to Britain.
After Argentina’s surrender on June 14, 1982, many international sanctions were lifted; the US ended its measures in July, France in August, and Germany in September.
However, the UK chose to sustain strict export controls. According to official UK government guidance, the policy refuses licenses for any goods “judged to enhance Argentine military capability,” a direct response to the invasion’s threat to British sovereignty.
This was formalized as part of broader strategic export controls, governed by criteria prohibiting sales that could provoke regional conflicts or aid repression.
Over the years, the policy evolved but remained firm. In April 2012, amid renewed Argentine rhetoric under President Cristina Kirchner—including threats to “recover” the islands—the UK tightened its stance. London announced it would scrutinize all export licenses to Argentina more closely, even for non-lethal items such as cryptographic software.
A parliamentary report that year criticized the UK for not pressuring allies to adopt similar restrictions, calling it “reprehensible” given the war’s history and ongoing tensions.
Despite this, Argentina sought alternatives, turning to Israel for arms and later to China and Russia for military upgrades.
The sanctions have deflated Argentina’s military ambitions. As noted in a 2022 US Naval Institute analysis, it “froze” the Argentine armed forces in a 1970s-era state, limiting modernization and forcing reliance on outdated equipment.
In recent years, under President Milei—a pro-Western libertarian elected in 2023—Argentina has pushed for normalization. The country has recently acquired secondhand F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and rejected brand-new Chinese JF-17 Thunder jets.
While Milei’s overtures signal potential change, the UK’s stance remains steadfast: no relaxation without guarantees on the Falklands.
