King flies into a US storm over Falklands: Days before Charles’ visit, leaked memo says Trump could axe support for UK sovereignty over the islands

The King will be exposed to the Falklands storm during his state visit to America next week.

As Charles prepared for his transatlantic trip, the United States threatened to support Argentina’s claim to the South Atlantic islands.

A leaked email from the Pentagon has revealed that Donald Trump is considering withdrawing his support for Britain’s sovereignty over British territory. It is one of a series of controversial measures designed to ‘punish’ Western allies he sees as doing too little to support his war with Iran.

The email sparked outrage from British veterans, politicians and the Falklanders, where 99.8 per cent of the population voted to remain a UK Overseas Territory.

While Keir Starmer vowed on Friday that British sovereignty ‘will not change’, SAS hero Robin Horsfall said ministers should treat President Trump ‘with the disdain and disdain he deserves’.

But Downing Street could not say whether the UK still had the capacity to defend the archipelago, given the Navy’s dire situation. When asked twice, Sir Keir’s spokesman said it was a ‘hypothetical’ issue.

There are concerns that Argentina’s far-right leader and Trump ally Javier Milei may be emboldened by a change in US policy. Just this week he said he was doing “everything humanly possible” to protect the islands.

There is currently only four Typhoon fighter aircraft on the islands, along with HMS Medway, a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol ship, and 1,200 to 1,500 military and civilian personnel at RAF Mount Pleasant.

British troops in the Falkland Islands during the war with Argentina in 1982. Downing Street could not say whether the UK still had the capacity to defend the archipelago, given the Navy’s dire situation. When asked twice, Sir Keir’s spokesman said it was a ‘hypothetical’ matter

It took a force of 26,000 men, two aircraft carriers, attack ships, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and dozens of fighter planes and bombers to liberate the islands after the invasion of Buenos Aires in 1982. When the RAF base in Cyprus was attacked by Iranian proxies at the start of the current Middle East conflict, it took three weeks for a warship to reach the Mediterranean.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Washington DC on Monday, ahead of a banquet dinner at the White House the following day.

There had already been calls from the Left for the trip to be canceled after Mr Trump repeatedly mocked and belittled Sir Keir for not supporting his military campaign.

US diplomatic support for Europe’s long-standing ‘imperial possessions’ such as islands is being re-evaluated, an internal memo seen by Reuters said.

The US is also considering kicking Spain out of NATO because it does not allow its warplanes to use key bases or even fly in its airspace.

British Army veteran Simon Weston, 64, who suffered serious burns during the battle, said: ‘What happened? [the Falklands] It has to do with Mr. Trump, I have no idea.

‘He should leave the islanders alone and solve the problems he created himself. Stop blaming others. He can’t be a schoolyard bully. If he has a disagreement with Mr Starmer, then agree with Mr Starmer; Don’t bring the islanders into this matter.

‘The rest of the world is not a toy for him to play with.’

British Army veteran Simon Weston (pictured), 64, who suffered serious burns during the battle, said: ‘What happened? [the Falklands] It has to do with Mr. Trump, I have no idea.’

Trump and the King on a state visit last year. Charles and Camilla will arrive in Washington DC on Monday ahead of a banquet dinner at the White House the next day.

Mr Trump is making threats after Britain refused to support the Iran war. He is trying to pressure his NATO counterparts to join his efforts, claiming that support should be ‘automatic’. Article Five of the Alliance considers an attack on one member as an attack on all members. It was applied only once in the 77 years after 9/11.

President Ronald Reagan refused to come to Britain’s aid in 1982, when 255 Britons were killed and 775 wounded in the 74-day Falklands War.

Mr Horsfall, who has experience of both the Falklands and the Iranian Embassy siege, told the Mail: ‘This [the Argentine invasion] This was an attack on a NATO state and Article Five was not applied.

‘Behind the scenes, Reagan provided us with a certain amount of supplies, weapons, ammunition, satellites, etc. He supported it with, but they stayed out of it.

‘It’s clear Trump was playing stupid games with King Charles before he got there. It’s all so ridiculous.

‘I think this visit is a shame. I think this is a political disaster. He goes there to be humiliated by this idiot. ‘You must treat Trump with the disdain and disdain he deserves.’

Mr Trump told Reuters that Iran, NATO and Britain’s digital services tax were among the issues he would discuss with King Charles next week. Sir Keir’s spokesman said: ‘We could not be clearer about the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands. ‘Sovereignty vests in the United Kingdom and the islands’ right to self-determination is paramount.’

International relations expert Professor Peter Clegg said:

Mr Milei was ‘slightly less intransigent’ than his predecessors but ‘his territorial claim remained unchanged’.

He said that in the long run, ‘direct US pressure on companies engaged in planned activities such as oil exploration may be effective’. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘The Falkland Islands belong to the British. They’ve been there for a very long time. ‘Sovereignty is British sovereignty.’

A Falklands government spokesman said it had ‘full confidence in the UK’s commitment to support and defend our right to self-determination’.