Britain to spend £280mn on renewing Malvinas defenses

Britain has unveiled plans to bolster defenses on the Malvinas Island to counter what it calls possible threats from Argentina.

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told the parliament that London will spend £280mn over the next decade on renewing its military arrangements on the Malvinas Island.

“The principle threat to the islands remains…I am confident that, following this review, we have the right deployment,” he was quoted as saying by the British media.

Rising tensions

The Malvinas are about 500 kilometers east of the Argentine coast in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The UK and Argentina have been in a dispute over the sovereignty of the islands.

Tensions have recently risen as the Latin American country is increasing its military spending 33 years after the Malvinas war.

Argentina and Britain fought a 74-day war in 1982 over the Islands, which ended with the British side claiming victory over the Argentinians.

Buenos Aires says Britain forcibly stripped Argentina of sovereignty over the islands and has been occupying the territory since then.

Argentina has already been holding negotiations with Russia to lease 12 Sukhoi Su-24 supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft.

The islands have been declared part of the British overseas territories since the UK established its colonial rule there in 1833.

‘Colonial attitude’

Anti-war activist Ken O’keef believes Argentina has the right to exert control over the disputed island.

“Well, Argentina has every right to exert control all over its sovereign territory and you know the way in which Britain acquired the Falklands, just like every other colonial territory, is simply unjust and if there meant to be any justice in the world then the land should be naturally returned to its owners and so I see that the Argentinians certainly have a right to reclaim their Islands and if the British would not cooperate, then it could end up being rather dangerous for both Britain and Argentina,” the London-based commentator told Press TV on Tuesday.
“This is just how the empire, the old empire of England functions, you know, they are inspired to maintain their colonial status and the Falklands is one of many examples that how they cling to this colonial attitude,” Ken O’keef added.