Falklanders should 'go back' to England, insists Argentina in renewed war of words | LBC

The emboldened attempt to discuss the islands by the Vice-President comes after President Trump weighed in on the decades-long disputed territory after Britain failed to back the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

By Danielle de Wolfe

Falkland islanders have been told to go back to England after Argentina’s Vice-President renewed her country's claim to the British overseas territory.

The latest war of words between Britain and the Falkland Islands, the comments, delivered by Vice-President Victoria Villarruel, follow Donald Trump weighing in on the decades-long territorial dispute.

Speaking on the subject of the South Atlantic territory, the VP insisted: "The Kelpers are English people who live in Argentine territory".

The archipelago is referred to by Argentinians as "the Malvinas", while English residents of the Island are referred to as "Kelpers".

It comes just a week after Argentina's President, Javier Milei, a close ally of Mr Trump, was seen to declare that “the Malvinas were, are and will always be Argentine”.

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On Monday, Victoria Villarruel, Mr Milei’s deputy, took to social media to demand renewed State discussions over the future of the islands.

She wrote: “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.”

The emboldened attempt to stake claim on the islands comes after Donald Trump was seen to weigh in on the long-standing dispute in an apparent act of retaliation.

According to a leaked Pentagon email, Trump’s officials were ordered to retaliate against Nato allies over their refusal to join the US and Israel in their attacks on Iran.

The memo, obtained by Reuters, suggested that the US could review its position on Britain's claim to ‘imperial possessions’.

Nearly half a century on from the 1982 Falklands conflict, Trump was seen to hit back at Britain, shortly after also threatening to kick Spain out of the Nato military alliance over its lack of support in Hormuz.

But despite Trump's apparent threats, US state department officials have told British diplomats that they are unaware of any such plans to withdraw support from the region.

The conflict killed 255 members of the British armed forces, alongside 649 Argentinians and three residents of the Falkland Islands.