Argentina makes fresh claims over Falklands' sovereignty

An official Twitter account has posted a series of claims about the Falkland Islands at the start of what is to be a significant anniversary year of the Falklands War.

The conflict was fought in 1982 following the invasion of the islands by Argentina. It resulted in the deaths of 255 members of Britain's Armed Forces. 

The war lasted 74 days and resulted in a British victory. ​​​​​​

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The tweets included false claims that the "Malvinas Islands" are an "integral part of the Argentine national territory" and contained the hashtag #MalvinasArgentinas. 

The messages were posted on Twitter by the Argentinian Embassy to the European Union – the country's diplomatic representatives to the 27 member states that make up the EU.

The statements included claims that Argentina "inherited the territory from Spain by means of state succession" and that the UK "didn't express opposition nor did it assert any claim over the Islands, neither at that time nor during the process of recognition of the Argentine state."

The tweets could be seen as antagonising to some as 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. And while some supported the embassy's claims, others pointed out that the islanders held a referendum on the question of sovereignty and overwhelmingly voted to remain British. 

Official anniversary commemorations will be held in the UK and on the Falkland Islands later this year.

The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire will host 10,000 veterans and families at a special event on 14 June. Survivors will be granted Freedom of the Falkland Islands via a link to Stanley during a special ceremony.

"Respect sovereignty and self-determination."

In response to the embassy's tweets, Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation and a former aid to the late Baroness, dismissed the claims saying that the Falklands are British overseas territory and "always will be."

In a tweet, he added: "Argentina needs to respect sovereignty and self-determination."