Argentina’s president rules out military action over Falkland Islands

Argentine president Javier Milei has ruled out military action to take the Falkland Islands, while continuing to assert Argentina’s claim and saying he will pursue it through diplomacy. The statement matters amid renewed uncertainty over US support for British sovereignty and tensions between Argentina and the UK.

Milei’s remarks are the first time he has explicitly ruled out military intervention since Donald Trump said he would review the US position. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, prompting a war in which 255 British service personnel, 655 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders died. Milei has recently called the islands illegally occupied and threatened action, while Argentina has imposed sanctions linked to oil exploration; the UK says it will uphold the islanders’ declared wish to remain British.