Javier Milei has been accused of “bullying” the Falkland Islands community as tensions reignite over the sovereignty of the terrority.
Speaking to GB News live from the British Overseas Territory, Acting Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Stacy Bragger claimed that the Argentine President was “using” the debate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Joining GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White, Mr Bragger said that the intervention from Mr Milei is “nothing new”.
He said: “It’s very unhelpful. We think it’s another classic example of the attitude Argentina has towards us.
“This is nothing new for us, sadly. We’re used to Argentina trying to undermine our economy, so Milei obviously has elections coming up, so he’s using the Falklands issue unfortunately again.
“But we’re determined just to carry on and try and develop our community and and try and move forward despite the the very unwarranted actions of the Argentine government.”
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has been accused of ‘bullying’ the Falklands community
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REUTERS / GB NEWS
Mr Bragger accused the Argentine government of a “continued economic campaign” against the Islands in their pursuit of sovereignty.
He said: “A lot of people think there was a the war in 1982 and then that was the end of it, whereas in reality, Argentina has continued an economic campaign to try and undermine us in pursuit of their sovereignty claim.
“So in the past, they have tried to interfere with flights and shipping to the islands, and at the moment they’re targeting the hydrocarbons. So no, I think it’s it’s a cycle.
“They cool off for a bit and then when there’s elections happening and that sort of thing, Argentina tries to portray this as a dispute between Argentina and Britain, whereas in reality what’s happening is it’s a country of 40 million people bullying a small community of 4,000 people. So we don’t think this is the actions of a serious country.”
Mr Bragger told GB News that the Argentine government are trying to ‘undermine’ Britons
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GB NEWS
Mr Bragger declared that the nation “refuses” to recognise the right of Britons to self-determination.
He told GB News: “They say that we don’t exist as a people, but our message is that we’re here. We’re clear that we want to remain part of the British family.
“We had a referendum in 2013, where 99.8 per cent of people voted in favour of remaining British. So we don’t welcome what’s happening, but we’re trying just to carry on and keep developing.”
Turning to the interventions by Milei in the islands’ Sea Lion project, Mr Bragger argued that it is “not the action of a serious country”.
He said: “As I said, it’s just not the actions of a serious country. What’s happening here with the Sea Lion project is being done in accordance with Falklands legislation.
“It’s been done in accordance with international law, including on clause, so it’s a very deliberate it’s a very obvious what they’re trying to do.
“They’re trying to pursue the sovereignty claim by taking this action. So it’s certainly not something we welcome, and we’re working very closely with the British Government to respond to it.
“But it’s not going to stop us trying to move forward.”
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