Falklands fury as Trump ‘uses islands as pawn to punish Starmer’ | World | News
The head of the Falkland Islands government has accused Donald Trump of using the territory as a political “pawn” to lash out at Britain. Dr Andrea Clausen, the chief executive of the Falkland Islands Government, accused the US President of insulting the islanders by using the issue of sovereignty to “play games” with the territory’s future.
The comments come in response to a leaked memo written by the Pentagon, which suggested that the United States support for Britain’s claims to sovereignty could be used as a means to retaliate after the UK refused to participate in offensive strikes against Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to play down the leak, claiming that the suggestion was “just an email.” Ms Clausen told the Telegraph: “There are a lot of big games being played by a lot of people, and we might be a very useful pawn for somebody.
“As a nation, we are fundamentally resilient, vociferous, quite political, and fiercely independent, but very, very British… We’ve been British since 1833 – before Argentina existed, just so we’re clear.”
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and invaded in 1982 before being defeated in a short but bloody war with the UK.
Reports that the US was considering its position on the islands prompted Buenos Aires to call for talks with the UK over the South Atlantic territory.
Ms Clausen added: “It demonstrates a complete lack of respect and understanding for other people on this planet who are just quietly trying to get on, themselves, develop their own economy, look after their own people and make the Falklands a great place to be and to live.
“Sadly, we all know the games that people like to play, and we just have to navigate our way through that and try not to get dragged into it as much as possible.”
Downing Street said the UK’s stance on the Falklands was not going to change.
“The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK,” a No 10 spokesman said.
“The question of the Falkland Islands and the UK’s sovereignty and the islanders’ right to self-determination is not in question, and we’ve expressed that position clearly and consistently.”
Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno posted on X in response: “The Argentine Republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom that will allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which they are immersed.”
The Falkland Islands government said it had “complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK Government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination”.
