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Argentina Demands Dialogue With Britain On Disputed Malvinas/Falklands (Original Post) Ghost Dog Jun 2016 OP
... Ironing Man Jun 2016 #1
I do not think that is goiing to happen. pennylane100 Jun 2016 #2
Already done. Ironing Man Jun 2016 #3
I'd suggest offering fisheries protection assistance, Ghost Dog Jun 2016 #4
Sadly, already done.. Ironing Man Jun 2016 #5

Ironing Man

(164 posts)
1. ...
Fri Jun 10, 2016, 06:06 AM
Jun 2016

well i can only congratulate them on their sense of timing....

aside from the principle of the issue, which is that while the Falkland Islanders do not wish to discuss their sovereignty with Argentina there is simply nothing to talk about, the timing is spectacular.

Argentine FM going for election as Secretary General at the UN - for which she needs UK support - the EU referendum in two weeks time which appears to primarily about 'what is the UK's future?', and Cameron himself not overly popular with him MP's or wider Party.

i don't doubt that Labour MP's will be happy to stick their oar in, knowing how talk of telling Argentina to fuck off will offend the Comrade, be hugely popular with the electorate, and show the Comrade up as being completely out of touch...

so, whats the driver for this demand - corruption inquiry or economy in the toilet?

pennylane100

(3,425 posts)
2. I do not think that is goiing to happen.
Fri Jun 10, 2016, 11:20 AM
Jun 2016

However, if it does heat up to the point there may be an Argentinian invasion, UK should send battle ships in advance as it took a couple of weeks to get there last time and delayed kicking them out.

What would be more productive is Argentine asks for referendum of the people who live there if they would like to join Argentina and it turns out that they do, then they should be allowed. However I also believe that they would prefer to keep the status quo.

Ironing Man

(164 posts)
3. Already done.
Fri Jun 10, 2016, 12:09 PM
Jun 2016

the Islanders held a referendum on their constitutional position in 2013.

of the 1,650 persons entitled to vote, 1,517 did, of those a mighty 3 voted to change the constitutional arrangement. it was a 91.9% turn out, with 99.8% of those voting wishing to remain within the current constitutional situation.

with regards to a war - no chance. Argentinas navy has so little money that its ships sink at their moorings, its 3 submarines spend around 6 hours per year underwater each, and it hasn't bought a single guided missile of any type on over a decade (missiles go out of date just like any product, you either use them, throw them away, or take the risk that they won't work when you want them to or - more excitingly - that they'll work when you don't want them to...). Argentinas Air Force has retired or grounded all of its fast jets because of lack of spares, and the Argentine Army has been working a 3 day week for nearly two years because it can't afford the electricity or food for its soldiers 5 days a week.

the UK however maintains a large presence in the Islands - four Typhoon fighters (judged by the USAF to be second only to the US F-22A stealth fighter..), an infantry company, tanker, helicopters, massively powerful radars, surface to air missiles, and a whole air base and port that exists to allow very large numbers of soldiers to arrive very quickly. the UK conducts exercises every few years to practice rapid reinforcement - it can put a full infantry battalion (650 men with mortars, anti-tank missiles etc..) in the Falklands in 36 hours, and have a full brigade (3000 men) with Artillery, light tanks, attack helicopters and another 12 Typhoons and 8 Tornado GR4 bombers in place in 7 days...

Argentina has started trying to buy new fighters over the last few years, but none of the deals come off - so far they've tried with the US, Israel, Spain, France, Israel again, Russia (possibly), Brazil, Israel again...

 

Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)
4. I'd suggest offering fisheries protection assistance,
Fri Jun 10, 2016, 04:54 PM
Jun 2016

with vessels based in the islands, to Argentina in exchange for a fishing quota for British fishermen on their contintal shelf... and further bilateral discussions taking in all mutual interests and possible areas of cooperation.

But beware of who's in power and all the cronyism/corruption.

Ironing Man

(164 posts)
5. Sadly, already done..
Sat Jun 11, 2016, 11:15 AM
Jun 2016

There was an agreement in the 90's to manage fisheries and oil/gas exploration - sharing revenues etc...

Sadly, one of the parties tore up the agreement while going through one of their many economic and political crisis.

You'll be disappointed to learn that you won't win any points by guessing correctly who it was...

You can imagine the enthusiasm with which the other party greets 'offers' of this type subsequently - aided of course by the fact that one party refuses to accept that the other exists, and insists on doing the diplomatic equivalent of talking to your mum instead of you....

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