Argentina Reiterates Sovereignty Claims over Malvinas, Calls for Bilateral Negotiations
The Argentine government has reaffirmed its legitimate and inalienable sovereignty rights over the Malvinas Islands and surrounding maritime spaces, as it marked the 192nd anniversary of the British occupation of the archipelago. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Chancellor Gerardo Werthein expressed its readiness to resume bilateral negotiations to find a solution to this sovereignty dispute and put an end to the colonial situation in the Malvinas Question.
The statement acknowledged the historical process that led to the illegal British occupation of the Malvinas in 1833, highlighting that all Argentine governments since then have consistently reaffirmed their legitimate and imprescriptible rights over the islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime spaces. The Argentine Constitution maintains that the recovery of effective sovereignty over these territories is a permanent and irreversible objective of the Argentine people.
Argentina also criticized the unilateral exploration and exploitation of natural resources by the British in illegally occupied marine spaces, which violate UN resolutions and have sparked concern and rejection from the international community. The statement emphasized that Argentina desires a constructive relationship with the United Kingdom, encompassing substantive dialogue that includes sovereignty negotiations and other topics of mutual interest, in line with the Argentine Constitution and UN resolutions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the significance of UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 (XX), which established that the decolonization of the Malvinas could only be achieved through bilateral negotiations. To this end, Argentina reaffirmed its commitment to the Good Offices Mission entrusted to the UN Secretary-General by the General Assembly, aiming to help the parties resume negotiations and find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands as soon as possible.
Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas Islands has been a contentious issue for decades, with the United Kingdom maintaining its administration of the archipelago despite frequent protests and negotiations with Argentina. As the world’s attention turns to theuks, Argentina continues to press for a resolution that respects its sovereignty rights and the interests of both nations.