Milei says Argentina will pursue the Falklands diplomatically: “We do not believe in military solutions”

Argentine President Javier Milei declared in Madrid that he is certain of regaining the Falkland Islands through diplomatic means, asserting three times that his government rejects military options. He made these claims during a breakfast event organized by the Nueva Economía Forum, emphasizing Argentina's historical ownership of the territory.

Milei asserted that "the Malvinas are Argentine," noting that Spain originally purchased the islands and that the indigenous population was expelled by the English. He reiterated that Argentina intends to continue negotiating until the islands are returned, declaring them as the legitimate owners.

Milei also highlighted the potential geopolitical and demographic challenges facing the United Kingdom as a threat to the regional stability, though he did not elaborate on the specifics of this claim. The dispute over the Falklands intensified with the recent International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea scheduled to hold hearings in Hamburg on November 10 and 11 regarding Argentina's request to suspend the Sea Lion oil project.

London maintains that the islands are British and that their residents have the right to determine their future, as evidenced by a 2013 referendum where 99.8% of voters opted to remain a British overseas territory.

At the same forum, Milei defended his cooperation with the United States and Israel while advocating for increased trade with China, questioning why Argentina cannot engage in similar economic relations. He expressed support for the sovereignty bill proposed by his administration, which seeks to strengthen sanctions against Argentina's adversaries, although this bill remains unpassed in the Chamber of Deputies.