Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
That suggestion presupposes that there is a claim to be settled. Just because Argentina makes a claim, it does not follow that the claim is legitimate. And at this point the British government has no reason to acknowledge, and therefore legitimise, Argentina's claim by agreeing to talk about it.
The UK holds all the cards here. Despite petty manoeuvres such as barring Falklands-flagged vessels from South American ports, ultimately Argentina will lose out. It stood to gain from the construction of any on-shore processing facilities required once oil starts to flow from the seabed around the islands but that is now increasingly unlikely.
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There is also the issue of the UN resolution on colonialism which, as I understand it, is what the Argentinians may be relying on. In that context the claim is not solely an Argentenian one but an obligation under the terms of the UN.
Either way, as I have already stated, diplomacy would be the preferred option.