Fast forward to 2010: The Argentines still want the Falklands, which are inhabited almost exclusively by people of British descent, but are trying to gain the upper hand through diplomacy.
From The Times:
British diplomats have expressed serious concerns to the US State Department at least three times over Washington's response to the latest dispute over the Falkland Islands, The Times has learnt.
In telephone calls and meetings, senior diplomats and specialists were forced to restate Britain’s position on sovereignty over the islands and seek clarification of the US position after a State Department spokesman in February answered a question about the Falklands by saying: "Or the Malvinas, depending on how you see it."
British anger over the Obama Administration's apparent indifference to the issue mounted when Hillary Clinton endorsed President Fernández de Kirchner's call for talks on sovereignty while she was in Buenos Aires last week, State Department sources said.
The new details of British complaints emerged as influential conservatives in Washington described the Administration's handling of the dispute as offensive, ignorant and a reflection of a lack of enthusiasm for the idea of a special relationship between the two countries.
Related posts:
Obama foreign policy cluelessness: This time it's the Falklands
Al Haig is gone, meanwhile Argentina seeking UN help over Falklands claim
Obama doesn't view UK relationship as special
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"Steve" left a comment that just won't seem to post:
ReplyDeleteFrom one country with very few friends in the world to another country with very few friends in the world thanks for your support.
The Falklands are as Argentine as Texas is Mexican.
Us Brits see more chance of Northern Island voting to become part of The Irish republic or Scotland voting for complete independence than the Falklands ever becoming Argentine. That is why this is offensive and silly to expect us to even discuss this.
Also, the term 'Malvinas' is offensive to Falkland Islanders due to the treatment they received by the occupiers in 1982 which is why Falkland Island websites in Spanish use the term Islas Falklands.