Downing Street has firmly stated that sovereignty of the Falkland Islands "rests with the UK," following a report that the United States may be reconsidering its position on the disputed territory.
The reported internal Pentagon email, cited by Reuters, allegedly outlined options for punishing NATO allies perceived as insufficiently supportive of US military actions in Iran, including a potential review of the Falklands issue and even seeking Spain's suspension from the alliance.
In response, a No 10 spokesman emphasized: "The Falkland Islands have overwhelmingly voted in favor of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we have always stood behind the islanders' right to self-determination. Sovereignty rests with the UK."
The prime minister's official spokesman added: "We could not be clearer about the UK's position. Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount. We have expressed this position consistently to successive US administrations, and nothing is going to change that."
Previous US administrations have formally acknowledged the UK's de facto administration of the islands but have not adopted an official stance on sovereignty. BBC News has contacted the Pentagon regarding the reported email but has not been able to verify the document.
The Falklands review was just one of several measures reportedly suggested in the email. When asked about the possibility of pushing for Spain's expulsion from NATO, an alliance official stated that the founding treaty "does not foresee any provision for suspension of NATO membership, or expulsion."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez commented: "We do not work based on emails. We work with official documents and official positions taken, in this case, by the government of the United States."
The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, remain the subject of a long-standing sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. The 1982 conflict saw Argentina invade the islands, prompting a British naval task force to reclaim them. The war resulted in 649 Argentine and 255 British military deaths, along with three civilian Falkland Islanders.
While the White House has yet to comment, the report could add friction to US-UK relations, which are already strained. Former President Donald Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with UK support during the Iran conflict, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has consistently stated Britain will not be drawn into a wider war.
The report emerged just days before King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to travel to the US for a meeting with President Trump at the White House.
In April 2024, Argentine President Javier Milei announced plans for a "roadmap" to bring the islands under Argentine control, though he emphasized a diplomatic approach, acknowledging the islands are currently "in the hands of the UK" and that no immediate solution exists. Milei, a close ally of Trump, criticized previous Argentine leaders for making grand sovereignty claims without results.
Argentina's historical claim to the islands is based on inheritance from the Spanish crown in the early 1800s and their proximity to the South American mainland.