Britain’s ambassador to Israel has rejected recent Argentine claims disputing the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Simon Walters responded to comments made by Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, who asserted in the Jerusalem Post that the islands historically belong to Argentina. Walters characterized Quirno’s remarks as “historical falsehoods” and emphasized the long-standing British control of the territory.
In a written rebuttal, Walters pointed to events dating back to January 1833, when British forces expelled an Argentinian military garrison that had arrived months earlier attempting to assert Argentina’s claim over the islands. He highlighted that no Argentinian civilian population was displaced during this action and underscored the 2013 referendum in which the Falkland Islanders overwhelmingly expressed their desire to remain under British sovereignty. “The Falkland Islands are British, and self-determination lies with the islanders,” Walters stressed.
The exchange follows heightened tensions after Argentina’s recent victory over England in the football World Cup semi-final, which had spurred provocative statements about reclaiming the archipelago, known in Argentina as the Malvinas. Argentine President Javier Milei has indicated his intention to pursue the island’s “recovery,” while Republican Overseas Israel chairman Marc Zell urged the former U.S. administration under Donald Trump to reconsider support for the British claim. Zell criticized Britain over its stance on the Iran conflict and suggested that shifting U.S. backing to Argentina would reward Milei’s alignment with America on that issue.
Diplomatic relations between Britain and Israel have been strained amid Britain’s criticism of Israeli policies in the West Bank and its formal recognition of a Palestinian state under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government. Meanwhile, Israel is cultivating ties with Latin American countries, including Argentina, many of which have right-of-center governments sympathetic to Israel. This dynamic has raised concerns among some diplomats about the possibility of Israel endorsing Argentina’s sovereignty claims and lobbying U.S. policymakers on its behalf.
Despite these concerns, Israeli officials have stated there is no current indication that Argentina is attempting to leverage Israeli influence on the Falklands dispute. Israel’s foreign policy generally prioritizes strategic interests and avoids impulsive diplomatic moves. Previous threats from Israeli ministers to disrupt British and French diplomatic missions over the Palestine recognition have not materialized.
Britain retains its position as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and remains a formal ally of Israel, even though ministerial ties have cooled. Some observers note that Andy Burnham’s remarks before assuming office as UK Prime Minister, which criticized Sir Keir Starmer’s approach to Israel, could signal a further shift in British policy. It remains uncertain whether Burnham will advance measures to sanction goods and services originating from the West Bank, a step initiated by his predecessor.
Meanwhile, Argentina has sought to strengthen its rapport with former U.S. President Trump by joining his board of peace initiatives, contrasting with Britain’s decision not to participate. The Falkland Islands dispute continues to be a sensitive issue, intertwining historical claims with the complexities of current international alignments.