In a ceremony in honor of those killed in the Falklands War, Milei claims sovereignty over the islands | World

Milei spoke during the ceremony to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the confrontation between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

This was the first tribute to war veterans during Milei’s government. The vice president, Victoria Villarruel, daughter of a former war fighter, was also at the tribute ceremony.

The far-right president had already said that the Malvinas Islands (called Falklands by the English) should pass to Argentina. He mentioned this again in his speech this Tuesday, when he stated that he will “start a clear path for the Malvinas to become Argentine again”. Without mentioning previous governments by name, he said that many politicians “beat their chests calling for the sovereignty of the islands, but without any results”.

According to Milei, for the country to be respected, it must be a protagonist in international trade and have an army prepared to protect its sovereignty.

He then praised the military and called for “a new era of reconciliation between society and the Armed Forces, giving them the recognition and support they deserve”.

The last dictatorship in Argentina began in 1976 and ended in 1983. Since then, the country tried and sentenced military personnel who committed crimes during the period.

Milei stated in her speech that wants to change the image of the armed forces.

Malvinas veterans and the children of fallen fighters are campaigning to keep the pensions that other Argentine governments have granted them amid the public spending cuts that Milei has promoted.

The Falklands (called Falklands by the United Kingdom) they are around 480 km away from Argentina and 13 thousand km away from the United Kingdom. The two countries have been at odds over who owns the islands for centuries.

Argentina claims that in 1833 it illegally lost sovereignty over the territories to the English.

The United Kingdom asserts that its claim dates back to 1765, before that date, and that it sent a warship to the islands in 1833 to expel Argentine forces that had attempted to take possession of the islands.

In 1982, Argentina invaded the islands and then began the two-month war, which was won by the British. In total, they died:

• 649 Argentine soldiers
• 255 British fighters
• 3 island residents

Years after the war, in 2013, Falkland residents voted in a plebiscite to decide the fate of the island, and chose to remain an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

See below a report on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

40 years of the Falklands War: the dispute between the English and Argentines