Falklands dispute lives on

last updated 8 January 2015

Ushuaia, Argentina

Argentina this week marked the 25th anniversary of the outbreak of the Falklands war by reasserting its claim to the island chain, which is a British protectorate. “Neither war nor the passage of time changes reality. The Malvinas are Argentine,” said Argentine Vice President Daniel Scioli, using the Argentine name for the islands. Argentine forces invaded the islands in 1982, claiming that the British had seized them by force in 1833. Britain drove the Argentines off the islands after 73 days of fighting that left 649 Argentines and 258 British dead. Speaking in the city of Ushuaia, Scioli said Argentina would continue to press its claim in the U.N. Britain also commemorated the war this week with expressions of regret for the deaths on both sides.