Britain should accept a Hong Kong-style handover of the Falklands

Argentina's President Javier Milei is proposing that the Falkland Islands be handed over to Argentina, similar to how Hong Kong was returned to China. Milei argues that Argentina has a solid claim to the islands, dating back to its independence from Spain in 1816. He suggests using the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration as a model for resolving the dispute, which allowed Hong Kong to retain many of its social systems for 50 years while transferring sovereignty to China.

This approach could potentially allow the 3,600 residents of the Falklands to maintain their governance structures, British cultural identity, and economic arrangements under Argentine rule. Milei's proposal is based on the legal arguments that Argentina inherited Spanish sovereignty over the islands when it gained independence and that Britain's 1833 expulsion of Argentine authorities was an illegal usurpation.

He rejects the idea of self-determination for the current islanders, who voted in a 2013 referendum to remain a British territory. Instead, Milei advocates for a compromise that acknowledges historical claims while respecting the islanders' way of life. Britain's response to Milei's proposal centers on the independence of the Falkland Islanders, citing the 2013 referendum in which 99.8% of islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.

However, Britain argues that this principle cannot be applied in isolation from other legal frameworks. It notes that the UN has recognized the dispute's legitimacy since 1965 and invites both parties to negotiate a peaceful settlement. The article concludes that Britain should recognize the validity of Argentina's claim and consider the Joint Declaration as a framework for a negotiated settlement.