The Falkland Islands, also recognized as the Malvinas Islands or Spanish Islas Malvinas, is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 300 miles northeast of South America’s southern tip and near the Strait of Magellan, these islands have Stanley as their capital and significant town. East Falkland, the island where Stanley is located, hosts several small settlements along with a Royal Air Force base at Mount Pleasant. The Falkland Islands comprise two principal islands, East and West Falkland, and around 200 smaller islands.
Falkland Islands’ History
The Falkland Islands first saw settlement by the British in 1765 on West Falkland. However, the Spanish, who had acquired the French settlement around 1767, ousted them in 1770. Following the threat of war, the British reestablished their outpost on West Falkland in 1771. Nevertheless, for economic reasons, they withdrew from the island in 1774 without relinquishing their claim to the Falklands. From 1811 onwards, the Argentine Government, after declaring independence from Spain in 1816, claimed sovereignty over the Falklands. The US, in reprisal for the detainment of three of its ships in the area, destroyed the Argentine settlement on East Falkland in 1831.
The British then removed the remaining Argentine officials from the island in early 1833 without any violent conflict. By 1885, a British community of approximately 1,800 people was self-supporting on the islands. However, Argentina regularly protested Britain’s occupation of the islands. Sovereignty over the Falkland Islands became a United Nations (UN) matter post World War II, culminating in protracted discussions to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute. However, in April 1982, Argentina’s military government invaded the Falklands, sparking the Falkland Islands War.
Falkland Islands Conflict and its Aftermath
The Falklands war ended after ten weeks with the surrender of the Argentine forces to the British troops who had forcibly reclaimed the islands. Despite the restoration of full diplomatic relations between Britain and Argentina in 1990, the issue of sovereignty stayed contentious. The British continued to station around 2,000 troops on the islands into the early 21st century. In January 2009, a new constitution came into effect, bolstering the Falklands’ local democratic government and reserving the islanders’ right to determine their political status.
Dispute Over Claims on the Falkland Islands
Argentina substantiates its claim to the Falklands based on a modified official document of 1493 – the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) where Spain and Portugal split the New World amongst them. It also bases its claims on succession from Spain, the islands’ close proximity to South America, and ending colonialism. In contrast, Britain bases its claim on its, “open, continuous, effective possession, occupation, and administration” of the islands since 1833 and its wish to implement the principle of self-determination as recognized in the United Nations Charter. Britain contends that Argentine rule and control over the Falklanders against their wishes would indeed create a colonial situation.
India’s Role in the Falkland Territorial Issue
Recently, India extended support to Argentina’s campaign to restart international negotiation on the Falkland territorial issue. This decision carries potential impacts on the policies, politics, and interests of India, particularly concerning its neighborhood.
