Argentina has urged the government of the Great Britain to re-start the discussion about the Falkland Islands, referred to as Las Islas Malvinas in Argentina, currently under UK control.

Argentine Foreign Ministry released a statement yesterday, expressing its earnest desire to reach a definitive resolution to the territorial dispute. This communication coincided with the commemoration of the 190th anniversary of the British possession of the disputed islands.

The contested group of islands is situated approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away from the Argentine mainland. Argentina asserts its ownership of these territories based on the authority granted to it upon gaining independence from Spain in 1816.

The Ministry affirmed the Argentine Government’s ongoing commitment to engage in bilateral negotiations aimed at resolving the sovereignty dispute, in line with the pertinent resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.

The ministry stated that, throughout history, every Argentine government has consistently reaffirmed their legitimate and unyielding sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgias, South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas. This declaration indicates that the new administration is following this established pattern.

The Argentine Government aims to uphold a mature relationship with the United Kingdom and seeks to engage in substantive and constructive dialogue on all mutual interests, with the objective of fostering trust and creating a favorable environment for the resumption of negotiations, the ministry declared.

Yesterday’s Buenos Aires statement aligns with the promises made by the newly inaugurated Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei has consistently brought up the Malvinas matter, emphasizing the urgency to reclaim them. He has committed to addressing the issue through diplomatic means once he assumes office.

London did not welcome Milei’s promises warmly. The Falklands’ sovereignty is considered non-negotiable by the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office, as they believe the matter was already decisively settled after the 74-day war in 1982, which ended in Argentina’s decisive defeat.