Argentina's military personnel of the 601 Company get ready to board a helicopter in the Strait of San Carlos, during the Falkland War between Argentina and Britain, May 1982. (Reuters photo)
LONDON: Nearly 30 years after the United Kingdom
went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, tension between
the two nations ratcheted up once again with the British foreign office
warning Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay against closing their ports to
ships bound for the South Atlantic islands. The sea bed in the region is
learnt to possess vast mineral and oil wealth.
Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the islands, along with Brazil and Uruguay, has barred British vessels from reaching the Falklands using a maritime blockade. A former British Naval chief called on Whitehall to send a nuclear submarine to the region.
Earlier, a statement issued by presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay said UK's ships "should not dock in Mercosur ports; and if that were to happen, they should not be accepted in another Mercosur port".
Mercosur is a trading block comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The statement added that "all measures that can be put in place to impede the entry of ships flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands" should be adopted.
The UK foreign office reacted saying, "We're concerned by this latest Argentine attempt to isolate the Falkland Islands people and damage their livelihoods, for which there is no justification."
'Don't doubt us'
While London has started diplomatic efforts to lower the temperature, it also warned that "no one should doubt our determination to protect the Falkland Islanders' right to determine their own political future".
UK maintains the people of the Falklands are overwhelmingly of British origin and its claims over it, since 1833, are non-negotiable.
In 1982, then British PM Margaret Thatcher went to war and re-captured the Islands after Argentina invaded it. While using force does not appear a possibility, a stand-off is not ruled out. Britain is seen as much weaker than 30 years ago; while Argentina has grown stronger.
Former British naval chief called on Whitehall for a nuclear submarine because, unlike 1982, UK doesn't have an aircraft carrier.
The Mercosur decision was the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies showing solidarity with Argentina. The Falklands are a powerful Argentine national symbol.
Argentinian president Cristina Kirchner said, "The UK is a permanent member of the Security Council, yet it does not respect a single resolution." She added, "We are not asking them to come here and recognize that the Malvinas are Argentinian, but what we are saying is for them to comply with the UN, sit down and talk, talk, talk."
Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the islands, along with Brazil and Uruguay, has barred British vessels from reaching the Falklands using a maritime blockade. A former British Naval chief called on Whitehall to send a nuclear submarine to the region.
Earlier, a statement issued by presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay said UK's ships "should not dock in Mercosur ports; and if that were to happen, they should not be accepted in another Mercosur port".
Mercosur is a trading block comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The statement added that "all measures that can be put in place to impede the entry of ships flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands" should be adopted.
The UK foreign office reacted saying, "We're concerned by this latest Argentine attempt to isolate the Falkland Islands people and damage their livelihoods, for which there is no justification."
'Don't doubt us'
While London has started diplomatic efforts to lower the temperature, it also warned that "no one should doubt our determination to protect the Falkland Islanders' right to determine their own political future".
UK maintains the people of the Falklands are overwhelmingly of British origin and its claims over it, since 1833, are non-negotiable.
In 1982, then British PM Margaret Thatcher went to war and re-captured the Islands after Argentina invaded it. While using force does not appear a possibility, a stand-off is not ruled out. Britain is seen as much weaker than 30 years ago; while Argentina has grown stronger.
Former British naval chief called on Whitehall for a nuclear submarine because, unlike 1982, UK doesn't have an aircraft carrier.
The Mercosur decision was the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies showing solidarity with Argentina. The Falklands are a powerful Argentine national symbol.
Argentinian president Cristina Kirchner said, "The UK is a permanent member of the Security Council, yet it does not respect a single resolution." She added, "We are not asking them to come here and recognize that the Malvinas are Argentinian, but what we are saying is for them to comply with the UN, sit down and talk, talk, talk."
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