Argentina’s President Javier Milei has admitted the Falkland Islands are currently “in the hands of the UK” and described former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as “brilliant”.
Milei, 53, entered power in December last year after leading the Libertarian Party to victory over Argentina’s centre-left Renewal Front.
Despite admitting the Falkland Islands are currently British, Milei vowed to get the territories back through diplomatic channels.
Milei admitted it could take decades for Buenos Aires to seize control of the Falklands and stressed Argentina does not “seek conflict”.
Argentina's President admits the Falklands ARE British and says Margaret Thatcher was 'brilliant'
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However, the right-wing firebrand also praised the Iron Lady who was Prime Minister during the Falklands War of 1982.
He said: “Criticising someone because of their nationality or race is very intellectually precarious.
“I have heard lots of speeches by Margaret Thatcher. She was brilliant. So what's the problem?”
Thatcher ordered the torpedoing of the Argentine naval cruiser General Belgrano which caused the deaths of 323 people on board.
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Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron walks around Port Stanley on the Falkland IslandsPAThe invasion claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.
Lord David Cameron’s visit to the Falklands earlier this year appears to have provoked figures in Buenos Aires.
The Foreign Secretary met leaders of the Falkland Islands Government and a range of community groups.
During his visit, the former Prime Minister said: “The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.
Argentinians have long harboured ambitions to reclaim the Falkland IslandsGETTY“The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built.
“The islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability.”
However, Milei said he wanted the islands, known as Malvinas, to become Argentine “within the framework of peace”.
“We are not going to relinquish our sovereignty, nor are we going to seek conflict with the United Kingdom,” he said.
Welsh Guards with the British Falkland Islands Task ForcePAMilei’s rhetoric is notably tamer than his left-wing predecessor Alberto Fernandez, who called the islands “stolen land” and the UK’s claim on them “disgusting”.
Argentina claims sovereignty of the Falklands by suggesting it was territory inherited following independence in 1816.
However, the British claim dates back to 1690 when they made the first recorded landing on the islands.
Despite Buenos Aires' unwavering commitment to taking the Falklands, a referendum held in 2013 revealed more than 99 per cent of residents want to remain part of the UK.
