United Kingdom responds to President Milei at the UN — MercoPress
The United Kingdom asked for a written statement responding to Argentine President Javier Milei’s speech on the Falkland Islands to be entered into the official record of the UN General Assembly. London said that Buenos Aires’ conduct regarding the archipelago is incompatible with the principles of the UN Charter and does not meet expectations of a democratic state.
As MercoPress reports, the document was submitted under agenda item eight of the 81st session of the General Assembly after Milei mentioned the issue of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, as well as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The United Kingdom used a similar procedure in 2012 in response to a statement by Argentina’s then-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
London’s position on sovereignty
In its statement, the United Kingdom said it has no doubts about its sovereignty over the two territories and the adjacent maritime areas. London also emphasized its support for the right of the islands’ residents to self-determination, enshrined in the UN Charter and Article 1 of the two international covenants on human rights.
The British side said that Argentina does not recognize the application of this right to the islands’ inhabitants and uses international platforms to advance its position on sovereignty. Argentina disputes the United Kingdom’s legal arguments.
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UN resolutions and hydrocarbon extraction
According to London’s position, UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 does not prohibit economic development and does not abolish the islanders’ right to self-determination. The United Kingdom also said that Resolution 31/49 does not restrict residents’ rights to freely determine their political status and pursue economic, social and cultural development. The statement says that calls for negotiations do not alter states’ obligation to respect the legally binding right to self-determination.
Separately, the United Kingdom criticized attempts to obstruct the work of international companies involved in hydrocarbon extraction in the archipelago and other local industries. London called this an attempt at the extraterritorial application of jurisdiction which, it said, has no justification in international law. The British side also stated that Argentine domestic legislation does not apply in these territories.
The document mentions the 2013 referendum: 99.8% of participants voted to retain the current status, with turnout at 92%. According to the British side, the vote was observed by independent representatives from Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.
