THE government of Argentina has accused the UK of breaking international law by sailing a Royal Navy warship through Argentinian waters without consent.
However, the UK Government has flatly rejected the allegations, saying that the ship was conducting a “routine logistics visit to Chile” and the Argentinian government had been informed in line with legal obligations.
The row became public after Argentina’s foreign ministry issued a statement accusing the UK Government of “illegal” actions just hours after the World Cup semi-final clash in which Argentina triumphed 2-1 over England.
The Argentinian government – in a statement originally in Spanish – said: “Under instructions from Foreign Minister [Pablo Quirno], on July 13 a formal note of protest was submitted to the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, expressing the strongest rejection of the movements of the vessel HMS Medway – illegally stationed in the Falkland Islands – which were not duly notified in accordance with current bilateral agreements and declarations, and which involved transit through Argentine Territorial Waters.”
It went on: “The Argentine Government firmly rejects this British military incursion into areas under Argentine jurisdiction, which adds to a sustained policy of unilateral acts that is incompatible with United Nations resolutions and with the duty of both parties to refrain from altering the situation while the sovereignty dispute remains pending settlement.
“Such unconsulted and illegal movements contravene bilateral commitments on confidence‑building measures in the military sphere currently in force between the two countries …
“Far from generating the conditions of trust and understanding required for a mature bilateral relationship, these actions deepen tensions in the South Atlantic, disregard the reiterated mandate of the international community, and obstruct Argentina’s efforts to move towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to the dispute.
“The Argentine Republic reaffirms, once again, its legitimate and imprescriptible sovereign rights over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas.
“By history, by right and by conviction, the Falklands are Argentine.”
However, the UK Prime Minister’s official spokesperson rejected the allegations.
"The facts here are that we have notified the Argentinian government in advance of HMS Medway taking a routine logistics visit to Chile between 5 and 8 July to support British Antarctic survey operations which will deliver essential stores and supplies to sustain scientific research in Antarctica,” they said.
“The Royal Navy always operates in full compliance with international law. Transit from the Falkland Islands to Chile was carried out by the most direct practical route considering operational safety and weather factors to ensure timely delivery."
Political tensions between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands have lingered for decades, after boiling over into a short but bloody war in 1982.
Buenos Aires has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the territory, which are about 8000 miles from the UK and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.
In a 2013 vote, the islanders overwhelmingly backed keeping their status as a British overseas territory, but Argentine foreign minister Quirno has suggested this referendum was illegitimate.
Days before the semi-final clash, he used an essay in La Nacion newspaper to claim the population had been “artificially implanted by the occupying power”, which was also flatly rejected by Downing Street.
After the World Cup semi-final against England, Argentinian players held up a banner claiming that the Falklands “are Argentinian”, in breach of Fifa rules banning political statements.
“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in response.
