Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is expected to announce a "significant increase" in troops sent to the Falkland Islands amid fears that Russia is helping to arm Argentina.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is believed to be working on a deal to lease 12 long-range bombers to Argentina, 33 years on from the Falklands War.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The increase in personnel and equipment will bolster the 1,200 troops already stationed in the Falklands. Four RAF Typhoon jets, a small fleet of Sea King search and rescue choppers and a Rapier anti-aircraft missile battery are also stationed on the islands.
Sir Gerald Howarth, a Tory MP and former defence minister, said he was "delighted" that the government was demonstrating its "unwavering commitment to the Falkland Islands so Argentina can be left in no doubt they are British sovereign territory and are deterred from repeating the folly of 1982".
He added that the threat had increased and Argentina's President Cristina de Kirchner had become ever more unpopular. "Who knows what she will do?" he said.
The Sunday Express reported in December that Russia was planning to offer Argentina 12 Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer aircraft in exchange for beef and wheat to beat EU sanctions over Ukraine.
The Sun says a potential new "oil bonanza" from exploratory drilling in Falklands territorial waters would also make a new invasion "much more profitable".
It comes as MPs on the Defence Select Committee urged the government to maintain the Nato target of spending two per cent of national income on defence. The UK urgently needs to rebuild its defence capabilities in the face of the growing threat from Russia, they said.
-
Massacre in the favela: Rio’s police take on the gangsIn the Spotlight The ‘defence operation’ killed 132 suspected gang members, but could spark ‘more hatred and revenge’
-
The John Lewis ad: touching, or just weird?Talking Point This year’s festive offering is full of 1990s nostalgia – but are hedonistic raves really the spirit of Christmas?
-
Sudoku hard: November 15, 2025The daily hard sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Argentina’s Milei buoyed by regional election winsSpeed Read Argentine President Javier Milei is an ally of President Trump, receiving billions of dollars in backing from his administration
-
What is Donald Trump planning in Latin America?Today’s Big Question US ramps up feud with Colombia over drug trade, while deploying military in the Caribbean to attack ships and increase tensions with Venezuela
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
