Argentina's president Javier Milei has renewed his country's claims to the Falkland Islands, pledging to defend Argentine interests "with tooth and nail" and announcing a televised national address for Thursday evening on what he called a "sacred" issue for Argentinians. The warning follows comments from Donald Trump suggesting the US could review its stance on the islands, prompting Downing Street to reaffirm that Britain's commitment to the territory remains "unwavering" and that sovereignty rests with the UK in line with islanders' wishes.

Milei described Argentina's claim to the islands, which it calls the Malvinas, as a matter of violated national sovereignty, while shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge insisted the Falklands "are British and they will remain British", invoking the sacrifice of British soldiers in the 1982 conflict. Although Washington's official position is neutral, it backed Britain during the 1982 war, and reports suggest the US could reconsider this stance if the UK fails to raise defence spending; Trump himself said only that he "always review[s] every position". Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly, by 99.8% to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum, and tensions resurfaced this summer when Argentina's footballers displayed a "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" banner after beating England at the World Cup.