Milei urges London to negotiate solution for Malvinas among UN criticisms

Nhis speech to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Milei focused his speech on the issue of the Falklands, warning the companies that exploit natural resources in this area of the South Atlantic for decades disputed by Argentina and the United Kingdom, without the permission of its Government, and spared no criticism of the UN, for having “looked aside” on this issue.

According to the Argentine head of state, the UN “has become a useless organization that only serves to feed a variety of arrogant parasites disguised as well-intentioned bureaucrats”.

Claiming that the organisation, set up to “guarantee collective security and human rights,” failed in its mission, “allowing chaos and international terrorism,” Milei criticized the UN for, among other things, voting “systematically against Israel” and for not defending the “territorial sovereignty of its members, having decided to look aside on the situation of the Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich and surrounding maritime spaces.”.

“The Falklands are a natural cause for us. I repeat, the Falklands are a national cause for us. And they are also a proof of the distance that there can be between the words of the international institutions and the reality about which they intend to act ", said.

Milei assured that “Argentina’s position is defined” and “will take action in this regard”, because he rejects “waiting for the UN and the international community to live up to its own mandate”.

The Argentine President insisted on the criticisms of the UN, which he accused of losing authority, since “there is no lack of words or resolutions, what is lacking is consequences”, because, he argued, “those who follow the rules have no reward for doing so, while those who violate them do not suffer the slightest reprisal”.

Milei referred to what he classified as “unauthorized exploitation” of his resources in the disputed area, in a context of renewed tension between Argentina and the United Kingdom due to the sovereignty of the Falklands, administered by the United Kingdom since 1833 and claimed by Buenos Aires.

“We will not be indifferent to those who exploit resources under illegitimate and illegal occupation,” he said to the UN General Assembly today.

In recent weeks, the Argentine government has hardened measures against companies operating in the archipelago without Argentine permission and has sent a National Sovereignty Defense Bill to Congress.

The project reinforces sanctions for the unauthorized exploitation of natural resources in the Falklands and aggravates penalties for activities related to the exploitation and extraction of hydrocarbons.

On Tuesday, Buenos Aires protested with the United Kingdom against the announcement by the British authorities of the Falkland Islands that they would extend for five years licenses to oil production offshore (offshore) near the archipelago.

On the same day, also intervened during the UN General Assembly, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that London will remain “firm before any threat or challenge” to the rule of law, particularly with regard to the Falklands.

“ We will stand firm in the face of any threat and challenge to the rule of law, not only from Russia, but also from others, including when they threaten the rights of British territories to remain British, like the Falklands,” Andy Burnham said

Milei went from admitting his admiration for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, soon after taking over the presidency of Argentina in December 2023, to arousing a strong nationalist sentiment and becoming a great defender of the sovereignty of the country, with legal and legislative actions such as that announced today.

In 1982, the United Kingdom ruled by Thatcher and Argentina engaged in a 74-day armed conflict, triggered by the invasion of the Falklands on 2 April by the Argentine military dictatorship, led by Leopoldo Galtieri, to try to recover this territory from the British (called Falklands) and divert attention from the internal economic crisis.

Thatcher highlighted a large air and naval contingent to maintain the archipelago, which he succeeded, on June 14, with the surrender of Argentine troops, after a balance of fatalities of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three local civilians.

The defeat caused the military junta to fall in Argentina and helped restore democracy, while strengthening Margaret Thatcher's government in the UK.