Falkland Islands row deepens as Argentina's President threatens to 'take matters into our own hands'

The UK’s dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands has escalated as Argentina’s President Javier Milei threatened to ‘take matters into our hands’.

The Argentinian President took to the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he said his country’s claim to the Falkland Islands was ‘a national cause’.

Milei went on to accuse the UN of ‘looking the other way’ and warned that his country was ‘going to take matters into our own hands’ through legal and economic action, which he described as ‘a peaceful, practical and effective defence’.

Milei also dismissed the wishes of those who live on the Falkland Islands, who have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of reaming a British Overseas Territory, claiming that the principle of self-determination didn’t apply as ‘the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute’.

Javier Milei has said his country will ‘take matters into our own hands’ (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Falklands have been under British control since 1833, but leaders in Argentina have long laid claims to them.

In 1982, Argentina launched military action in an attempt to take control of the Falklands, which resulted in a 74 day conflict.

The short but brutal conflict saw 255 British servicemen and 655 Argentine soldiers killed before Argentina surrendered.

Earlier this month, Milei said he would impose sanctions on firms involved in oil exploration around the Falklands and reiterated his country’s claim on the islands.

"The Falklands are Argentinean,” he said.

“Historically and legally. There can be no argument. They are part of the Argentine territory.

“The islanders on their usurped territory do not have a legitimate right to self-determination and any argument on any such self-determination is invalid.”

Speaking in New York yesterday (23 September), he hit out the UN.

“An organisation established to defend the territorial sovereignty of its members, decided to look the other way with regard to the situation of the Malvinas Islands,” he said.

“For us, the Malvinas is a national cause.

“For far too long, Argentine governments opted for a rhetorical defence. We have chosen a peaceful, practical, and effective defence.”

He continued: “We will not remain indifferent to those who exploit resources under illegal foreign occupation.

“Argentina’s position is clear. Today, I have come to tell you that Argentina is not going to sit around waiting for the UN and the international community to live up to their own mandate.”

The UK has hit back against Milei’s latest comments (Getty stock image)

The UK has since responded to his latest comments, branding them ‘wholly unacceptable’.

The British UN delegation said: “The United Kingdom has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.”

It added: “The United Kingdom is steadfast in its support for the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination… The Falkland Islanders have as much right to determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development as any other peoples.”

Making clear that Argentine law 'does not apply to the Falkland Islands', the statement went on: “Ongoing efforts to obstruct and harass international companies involved in Falkland Islands hydrocarbons, and indeed other Falkland Island industries, are a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and have no justification whatsoever in international law.

“Furthermore, they are obstructive to global business and inconsistent with free trade.”