Trump is reconsidering US support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in a move likely to strain the UK-US ‘special relatonship’.
President Trump (FILE) (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump may consider withdrawing US support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, it has been revealed, in a move likely to strain the “special relationship” between the UK and US.
When asked about his stance at the White House, the US president told reporters: “I always review every position – that’s just one of many.”
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The South Atlantic islands are British, but Argentina has long disputed the UK’s claim to the archipelago, asserting sovereignty. Argentina’s president is also a close ally of Trump.
Political tensions over the territory boiled over into conflict in 1982. The war lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender. Currently, the US takes a neutral position on who has rightful sovereignty over the islands.
Trump’s comments are the latest sign that the Oval Office is prepared to use the dispute as leverage to pressure the UK’s new Labor government to raise its defense spending and contributions to Nato.
The Falkland Islands (Image: Getty)
An unnamed US official told the Telegraph last week that the White House may change its position regarding the Falkland Islands – or, as they say in Argentina, Islas Malvinas – if Britain fails to meet Trump’s demands on a minimum defence spend of five per cent of GDP.
At the weekend, the British government reiterated its position by asserting its “long-standing and unwavering” commitment to ensure the islands remain a British Overseas Territory.
A spokesperson said, as per the Independent: “The UK is playing a central role in Nato and strengthening collective defence across Europe. We are Nato’s third largest cash spender on defence and the only European NATO member to commit our nuclear deterrent to the alliance.”
The report in the Telegraph comes following a threat regarding the Falkland Islands made back in April, with a leaked internal Pentagon email that appeared to suggest that that the US may withdraw its support regarding Britain’s claim to the Falklands as a punitive measure for its perceived lack of support regarding the US offensive in the Iran.