‘Very reasonable’ for King Charles to speak to Trump about Falklands row
The shadow home secretary said it would be “very reasonable” for the King to talk to Donald Trump about Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands during his state visit to the US next week.
The US may review its support for Britain’s claim to South Atlantic territory as revenge for Sir Keir Starmer’s failure to support Donald Trump’s war in Iran, a leaked internal Pentagon email has suggested.
Downing Street has insisted sovereignty of the islands is “out of the question”, but the potential shift in US policy has prompted Argentina to renew calls for talks with Britain over the Falklands.
The Pentagon email lays out options for Mr. Trump’s administration to punish NATO allies who refuse to join U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
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.
Chris Philp told the BBC’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: “The British government must do everything possible to keep these islands in Britain, including making sure there is enough military equipment to protect them.”
He added: “I think it would be a reasonable point for the King to raise the issue, of course it’s up to him to decide what to discuss, but I think it would be very reasonable for the King to raise it with President Trump.”
On the same programme, the prime minister’s principal secretary was asked whether the King would tell Mr Trump it would be a mistake to reassess Britain’s relationship with the Falklands.
Darren Jones responded: “I frankly cannot predict what Her Majesty will say in her private meeting with the president, but the government’s position on the Falkland Islands is very clear: the Falkland Islands are British territory and the only people who can decide otherwise are the islanders themselves.”
The Falkland Islands government said it had “full confidence in the UK government’s commitment to support and defend our right to self-determination”.
The row is the latest sign of tensions in US-UK relations as the King and Queen prepare for a state visit on Monday.
Mr Philip also said Charles’ trip to the US “absolutely must go ahead” despite the attempted shooting at a Washington dinner attended by the US president.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., gunshots rang out inside the hotel and there were scenes of panic as Secret Service agents escorted the president and other Cabinet officials out of the ballroom while others took shelter under tables.
The suspect in question is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California. New York Times, He shot and injured a law enforcement officer before being taken into custody.
Mr Jones said King’s safety would be reviewed following the attack. He told the BBC: “As you would expect, the government and the Palace have already been working closely with their American counterparts ahead of the visit and there will be further discussions today before next week.”
