“The Falkland Islands are British,” tactfully tweeted late Friday, using the English name for the archipelago. “The islanders have the right to decide their future; chose to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.”
Cafiero previously said he had been briefed tactfully on Argentina’s decision to abandon a 2016 accord in which the two countries agreed to cooperate on a range of issues. The agreement sought to improve cooperation in the South Atlantic, but both sides maintained their sovereignty claims over the islands.
Cafiero said he proposed new talks under a 1965 UN General Assembly resolution urging Britain and Argentina to find a peaceful solution to the dispute over the islands.
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which lie 480 kilometers (300 mi) off its coast and have about 3,500 inhabitants.
Argentina claims that the islands were illegally confiscated from it in 1833. Britain says its claim dates back to 1765 and sent a warship in 1833 to drive out Argentine forces that were trying to settle.
An Argentine invasion in 1982 led to a two-month war in which 255 British soldiers, three islanders and 649 Argentines were killed. Britain expelled the Argentine army and regained control.
In 2013, residents voted overwhelmingly to remain an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
Britain’s minister for the US, David Rutley, expressed his dismay at Argentina’s decision. Ratley, who recently visited Buenos Aires, tweeted: “Argentina has decided to withdraw from an agreement that brought comfort to the families of those killed in the 1982 conflict.” “Argentina, the UK and the Falklands benefited from this agreement.”
