Falklands fury as Trump ‘uses islands as pawn to punish Starmer’ | World | News
The head of the Falkland Islands government has accused Donald Trump of using the territory as a political “pawn” to attack the UK. The director general of the Falkland Islands Government, Dr. Andrea Clausen accused the US President of insulting the islanders by using the sovereignty issue to “play games” with the future of the region.
The comments came in response to a leaked memo written by the Pentagon that suggested US support for UK sovereignty claims could be used as a means of retaliation after Britain refused to join offensive strikes against Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to downplay the leak, claiming the proposal was “just an email”. Mrs. Clausen told Telegram: “There are many big games being played by many people, and we can be a very useful pawn for someone.
“As a nation, we are fundamentally resilient, loud, highly political and fiercely independent, but very, very British… We have been British since 1833, before Argentina existed, let me be clear.”
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and was defeated in a short but bloody war with Britain after invading the Falkland Islands in 1982.
Reports that the United States was considering its position on the islands prompted Buenos Aires to call for negotiations with Britain over the South Atlantic region.
Ms Clausen added: “This shows a complete lack of respect and understanding for other people on this planet who are quietly trying to get by with their own lives, develop their own economies, look after their own people and make the Falklands a great place to live and live.
“Unfortunately, we all know the games that people like to play, and we need to find our way around that and try not to get dragged into it as much as possible.”
Downing Street has said Britain’s attitude towards the Falkland Islands will not change.
“The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, and we have always stood by the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty resides with the United Kingdom,” a No 10 spokesman said.
“The question of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and the United Kingdom and the islanders’ right to self-determination is not at issue, and we have expressed this position clearly and consistently.”
In response, Argentine foreign minister Pablo Quirno posted on
The Falkland Islands government said it had “full confidence in the UK Government’s commitment to support and defend our right to self-determination”.
