Falklands veteran hopes King can persuade Trump to 'back down' over islands dispute
Simon Weston, who suffered severe burns in 1982 war, says US president's comments are "very unstatesmanlike"
L'essentiel
- Falklands War veteran Simon Weston has urged King Charles III to persuade US President Donald Trump to "back down" over reports the US could review its position on the UK's sovereignty claim to the Falkland Islands.
- An internal Pentagon email suggested the US was considering options to punish NATO allies over their stance on Iran.
- The UK government maintains sovereignty rests with the UK and the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount, while Argentina says it is willing to resume negotiations.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
The Falkland Islands have been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina since 1833. The 1982 Falklands War resulted in a UK victory but the dispute continues. Argentina claims the islands as the Malvinas, while the UK administers them with the support of the islanders who voted overwhelmingly to remain British.
Falklands War veteran Simon Weston has said he hopes King Charles III can convince US President Donald Trump to "back down" over reports the US could review its position on the UK's claim to the territory. An internal Pentagon email reported by Reuters suggested the US was considering options to punish Nato allies it believed had failed to support its war on Iran. BBC News has not been able to review the email. Downing Street has said that sovereignty of the Falkland Islands "rests with the UK" and that the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount. The Falklands remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina, with the Argentine government saying it is willing to resume negotiations. On Friday, a US state department spokesperson was quoted as saying by AFP news agency that the US position on the islands remained "one of neutrality". "We acknowledge that there are conflicting claims of sovereignty between Argentina and the UK," the spokesperson said, adding that the US recognises "de facto United Kingdom administration" of the archipelago without taking sides on sovereignty claims. When asked about what he hoped the King's state visit to the US next week could achieve on the row, Weston said he wanted the monarch to persuade Trump to "back down and calm down". "He's [Trump] paying absolutely no heed to the humanity that he's abusing with his words because the people of the Falklands deserve more respect, but so do every veteran who served down there deserve more respect." Weston, who served as a Welsh Guardsman during the 1982 war, suffered almost 50% burns to his body in the RFA Sir Galahad attack. He called the US president's comments "very unstatesmanlike", adding that he was "sad and disappointed it's come to this". Claiming sovereignty over the Falklands has been a rallying cry every Argentine government has deployed in the past, guaranteed to have a popular reaction. In Argentina's presidential palace, a plaque dedicated to the islands - which it calls Malvinas - is mounted in a prime position. On Friday, Argentina's President Javier Milei, a Trump ally, posted in capital letters on social media: "The Malvinas were, are, and always will be Argentine."
À surveiller
Perspective IA — des possibilités, pas des certitudes
King Charles III will raise the Falklands sovereignty issue during his US state visit
Très probable · En quelques semaines
The US will maintain its neutral position on Falklands sovereignty despite pressure
Probable · En quelques mois
Questions ouvertes
- What specific options is the Pentagon considering regarding the Falklands?
- Will King Charles III raise the Falklands issue directly with Trump?
- Could this lead to a shift in US policy on the sovereignty dispute?
