Argentina’s controversial claim on the Falkland Islands has been backed by Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, stoking tensions over the remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic. In his speech at the 9th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on Tuesday, Mr Orsi lent support to Argentina’s sovereignty claim, echoing the position of Argentine President Javier Milei, who has consistently called for negotiations over the future of the islands.
Mr Orsi referred to the dispute as a “historical demand” for Latin America, framing the sovereignty issue as a matter of international law and regional solidarity. He argued that every nation has the right to sovereignty and to live free from threats and aggression, a principle which, according to him, should extend to Argentina’s claim over the Falklands.
For decades, the islands have been a source of bitter contention between the UK and Argentina.
The dispute, which triggered the Falklands War of 1982, remains unresolved despite the British military’s victory.
Argentina continues to assert that the islands, known in Spanish as the Malvinas, are an integral part of its territory.
The UK, however, maintains control over the islands, with the islanders themselves voting overwhelmingly in 2013 to remain under British rule.
Mr Orsi’s remarks at the CELAC summit reflect the strong backing Argentina’s claim continues to receive from much of Latin America.
His speech aligns with Mr Milei’s foreign policy stance, which advocates for renewed dialogue over the islands.
Despite the UK’s firm position that the issue was settled by the Falkland Islanders’ vote, Latin American countries, including Uruguay, have consistently supported Argentina’s call for negotiations. They see the British control of the islands as a vestige of colonialism.
The issue of sovereignty over the Falklands has long been a point of contention in Latin America, where many nations view the UK’s control over the islands as an affront to the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination.
Mr Orsi’s support for Argentina’s claim adds to the pressure on the UK, highlighting the ongoing regional unity in favour of Argentina’s position.
In his address, Mr Orsi also called for the peaceful resolution of disputes, reflecting the commitment made at the 2014 CELAC summit to establish Latin America and the Caribbean as a “zone of peace.”
The UK, however, remains resolute in its opposition to Argentina’s claim, emphasising the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their future.
Despite repeated calls for dialogue, the British government has consistently insisted that the sovereignty of the Falklands is not up for debate.
Speaking in the Commons last year, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the archipelago’s sovereignty was “not up for negotiation.”
