Give us a Hong Kong-style Handover of Falklands from UK, says Argentinian leader

Argentine President Javier Milei has called for a handover of the Falkland Islands from the UK, similar to how Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. In a TV address on September 3, 2026, Milei said that the Falklands, also known as the Malvinas in Argentina, should return to Argentina as they are rightfully theirs. The president emphasized seeking a "consensus solution" for the islands, stating that his citizens do not believe in war.

Milei dismissed the UK as a country in decline and unveiled plans for a new military base in Tierra del Fuego. The Falklands, a self-governing British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have been under British control since 1841 following a ten-week war in 1982. A 2013 referendum saw 99.8% of Falklanders vote to remain British, while a 1986 vote recorded 96.45% in favor of British control.

Despite this, US President Donald Trump recently cast doubt on US support for Britain's administration of the territory. The UK has pledged its military support for the Falklands remains unwavering, stating that the islands are British and will remain so due to the overwhelming position of the islanders, which is grounded in international law.