Reports suggesting Trump may used the Falkland Islands may be used as leverage if Britain fails to meet demands on NATO defence spending
Donald Trump may withdraw US support for Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, it has emerged, in a decision likely to damage the “special relationship” between the UK and US.
When questioned about his position at the White House, the US president told journalists: “I always review every position – that’s just one of many.”
The South Atlantic islands are British, but Argentina has long challenged the UK’s claim to the archipelago, declaring sovereignty. Argentina’s president is also a close ally of Trump.
Political tensions over the territory erupted into warfare in 1982. The conflict lasted 74 days and concluded with an Argentine surrender.
Currently, the US maintains a neutral stance on who has legitimate sovereignty over the islands, reports the Express.
Trump’s remarks are the latest indication that the Oval Office is willing to exploit the dispute as leverage to pressurise the UK’s new Labour government to increase its defence spending and contributions to Nato.
An unnamed US official informed the Telegraph last week that the White House may alter its position concerning the Falkland Islands – or, as they say in Argentina, Islas Malvinas – if Britain fails to satisfy Trump’s demands on a minimum defence expenditure of five per cent of GDP.
At the weekend, the British government restated its stance by declaring its “long-standing and unwavering” commitment to ensure the islands remain a British Overseas Territory. A spokesperson stated, according to the Independent: “The UK is playing a central role in Nato and strengthening collective defence across Europe. We are Nato’s third largest cash spender on defence and the only European NATO member to commit our nuclear deterrent to the alliance.”
The Telegraph report emerges after a warning concerning the Falkland Islands issued in April, involving a leaked internal Pentagon email that seemed to indicate the US might withdraw its backing for Britain’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands as punishment for its apparent insufficient support regarding the US campaign in Iran.