Victoria Villarruel, Javier Milei’s deputy, said islanders that felt “English” should go back to the thousands of miles away where their country is”.
President of Argentina Javier Milei’s deputy sent the warning (Image: AP)
Argentina’s vice-president has called on Falklanders “to go back to England” in a delusional rant. Victoria Villarruel, Javier Milei’s deputy, said islanders who felt “English” should go back to “thousands of miles away where their country is”.
Her delusional statement comes as Argentina steps up its claim to sovereignty over the British Overseas Territory, despite Britain winning a war over it in 1982. Victoria Villarruel, Mr Milei’s deputy, wrote on social media: “Today, more than ever, the Malvinas are Argentine.
“The discussion over the sovereignty of our islands is between states, therefore the United Kingdom must discuss bilaterally with Argentina the claim that we maintain for legal, historical, and geographical reasons.”
“The Kelpers are English people who live in Argentine territory; they are not part of the discussion. If they feel English, they should go back to the thousands of miles away where their country is.”
Her rant comes just days after a leaked internal Pentagon memo revealed that the Trump administration was considering reviewing its support for Britain’s claim to the islands in retaliation for Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s lack of support for the war in Iran.
Argentina’s foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, responded to the reports by urging an end to what he described as British “colonialism” and calling for bilateral talks with the UK to come to a “peaceful and definitive solution.”
Downing Street insisted the sovereignty of the archipelago was “not in question”, but the row exposed the growing gulf between the UK and and the US.
The developments prompted President Milei to step up his claims to the archipelago. He has claimed his country is doing “everything humanly possible” to snatch the Falkland Islands from Britain.
He is also said to be ploughing millions into his nation’s military forces, with more than £220 million spent on 24 refurbished F-16 fighter jets from the Danish air force.