Trump’s ‘retribution’ could now include Falklands as favor to Milei – and revenge on the UK

The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly has stated that the future of the archipelago is to be decided by those who live there, emphasizing that this is a matter for the islanders to determine. The assembly reminds that the Falkland Islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory, and their future is grounded in international law, not altered by statements from other governments.

The text acknowledges that the islanders have faced pressure in the past, but they have continued to grow, develop, and thrive. In 2013, a referendum saw 92% of residents vote in favor of maintaining their status as a self-governing Overseas Territory of the UK, and this democratic choice remains unchanged. The assembly also thanks the United Kingdom for its unwavering support for the islanders' self-determination, which has been reaffirmed at the highest levels, including from Downing Street, Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, and international friends and partners.

The statement does not mention the sanctions announced by Argentine President Javier Milei against oil companies or the Sea Lion field, focusing instead on the issue of self-determination. Milei's message on Thursday claimed that the Falkland Islands are Argentine "historically and legally" and that the islanders do not have a legitimate right to self-determination in their "usurped territory."

Milei also announced sanctions against hydrocarbon extraction companies, increased funding for a naval base in Tierra del Fuego, and warned that any advance on the islands would be seen as a violation of national security. The British government responded hours later, with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting reaffirming the UK's absolute and unshakeable commitment to the Falklands, stating that Milei's statement reflects domestic politics in Argentina rather than the islands' situation.

The Legislative Assembly, the archipelago's unicameral body with eight elected members, has been administering the islands since 1833, with the most recent general election held on December 11, 2025.