𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A Falklands War veteran has insisted that the UK and Argentina must come to a deal over the long-contested islands. Chris Anderson, 68, who was on HMS Sheffield when it was hit by a French-manufactured Exocet missile fired by Argentinian forces on May 4, 1982, killing 20. The Royal Navy man, speaking to the Express outside The Victory Bar on East Falkland, said: “I think that, inevitably, there will have to be some sort of deal between Argentina and the UK.”

The Falklands have long been at the heart of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. The two countries fought a bitter 74-day war over the territory in 1982 in which 907 people lost their lives.

Mr Anderson added that this should include making sure the Falklands were not “bullied” and an arrangement would have to be reached in an “amicable” way. “We have to accept that the British Empire is over,” Mr Anderson said when asked if it would involve Buenos Aires possessing any sovereignty over the archipelago. “So why would we think that we have a long-term claim?”

On whether Sir Keir Starmer could cede the islands to Argentina in the same manner as he is planning to give up the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, he said both are “completely different” subjects.

“I don’t understand at all why Mauritius has any hold over those islands,” Mr Anderson added. “None at all. I can see why Argentina thinks that it might have some sort of claim over these islands, but Argentina didn’t exist as a country when we first came here… So I don’t actually understand where their claim comes from.”

Another veteran, David Cummins, also 68, who had met Mr Anderson on the cruise and served on HMS Antelope and the Valiant submarine during conflict 44 years ago, said that as long as the majority of people on the islands wanted to remain British, this should remain the case.

“All I can say is that back home in the United Kingdom, the belief is that if the majority of people want to do something then they will get to do what they want to do.

“As long as the majority of people on the Falkland Islands want to be part of the United Kingdom then I think it will stay that way. I think there will be a commitment from the Government to do anything differently.”

Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, is pursuing a long-term diplomatic strategy to gain sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, with an aim to achieve a peaceful transfer similar to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong.

He told The Telegraph that the archipelago should return to Argentina only through negotiation and when islanders wish.

The President said: “Whatever can be done to improve trade, I will do, taking the geopolitical risks into consideration.”

President Milei admitted to the BBC in 2024 that it could take decades to try to gain sovereignty of the islands from Britain.

He promised a “roadmap” for the territory to become part of Argentina, on the 42nd anniversary of the Falklands War.

The President slammed politicians who “beat their chests demanding sovereignty of the islands, but without any result”.

He added that Britain “might not want to negotiate today”, but “at some later point they might want to”.

“Many positions have changed over time.”

Sir Keir said in his Christmas message to the Falkland Islands: “I’m proud of the bond that we share as one great British family.
And I’m proud of the strong sense of community that unites us all. I know that is a big part of who you are on the Falkland Islands.”

He also pledged his “deep and enduring commitment to your right to self-determination and your democratic rights”.

The Prime Minister added: “These are rights that my own uncle fought for when he served aboard HMS Antelope in 1982.”

Keep up to date with all of Adam’s reporting from the Falkland Islands and Argentina over the coming weeks here.