U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted he would not come to the aid of Britain if Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands again due to lack of Iran war support.
The comments came as Argentinian president Javier Milei, a close ally of Mr Trump plans to make a televised statement on Thursday night about what he describes as his nation’s ‘historic’ claim to the islands.
The US has traditionally taken a neutral position regarding the Falklands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.
But Trump recently suggested that the stance is being reviewed, in what many regard as a pressure tactic to get more UK military cooperation.
Asked in an interview with GB News today whether he would ‘come to the aid’ of the UK in the event of another invasion, Trump said he clearly remembered the 1982 conflict.
‘I was there when they had the first war, that was a long time ago… you comported yourself very well, took it back very shortly. But it is a long way away,’ he said.
‘So, your country’s not doing well. Don’t forget you get a big percentage of your oil from the Strait of Hormuz and you weren’t there to help me.
‘Your country was not there to help me.’
During Keir Starmer’s premiership, the UK initially refused to take part in the US-Israeli offensive against Iran.
Sir Keir later authorised forces to support ‘defensive’ strikes against targets such as missile launchers.
However, the UK did not agree to Mr Trump’s call to send the Navy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
A fifth of global oil and gas supplies typically pass through the waterway, but Iran blockaded it in response to the attacks.
The Falklands, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina, more than 40 years on from an armed conflict over the territory.
