Argentina: 'UK should remove troops from Falkland Islands'

Argentina has called on Britain to wind down its military operations on the Falklands, insisting that it will not invade the islands.

Daniel Filmus, Argentina's special secretary for the Falklands, said Britain should withdraw troops from the South Atlantic territory, as it has done in Afghanistan.

"There is absolutely no chance of another invasion from the mainland," he said. "We as a nation – the government, the senate, the house of representatives – have repeatedly stated that we do not seek a military solution; all we want is a dialogue to resolve our differences."

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Filmus, a close friend of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, said it was "extraordinary" that with so many conflicts going on around the world, the British government does not want to hold talks.

"Instead they have the garrison there and have created one of the most militarised zones in that part of the world," he said.

Britain's base houses 1,200 military personnel and costs £90m a year to maintain, says The Independent. Its assets also include Rapier surface-to-air missiles, Royal Navy ships, RAF Typhoon jets and support aircraft.

The Week columnist Robert Fox pointed out yesterday that Argentina plans to acquire 24 Saab Gripen fighter-bombers, its first major purchase of new military aircraft since the Falklands War. Fox said the new aircraft will be "more than a match" for Britain's present defences in and around the Falkland Islands.

Tensions resurfaced in the region two years ago when Prince William was deployed to the islands and the UK sent a new warship, HMS Dauntless, provoking anger in Argentina. Last year, Falklands residents voted to remain part of Britain in a referendum.

The islands, known to Latin America as Las Malvinas, were invaded by Argentina in 1982 – a war that cost more than 900 Argentine and British lives.