Trump casts doubt on backing Britain over the Falklands, calling his stance under review
Donald Trump declined to commit the United States to helping Britain in a future Falklands conflict, telling GB News his country had not been there to help him against Iran despite praising Britain's conduct in the 1982 war. He told the BBC his position on the islands remains just one of many under review, citing an earlier request for NATO ships that went unanswered. Britain's government said the islanders are British with a right to determine their own future, and Argentina's president welcomed Trump's remarks.
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Trump won't commit to backing Britain in a new Falklands conflict
Asked by GB News in an interview aired Thursday whether the United States would come to Britain's aid in another conflict over the Falkland Islands, Donald Trump did not commit. He praised Britain's conduct in the 1982 war as strong, then said his own country was not doing well and that Britain had not been there to help him during the campaign against Iran. Washington has stayed neutral between the Argentine and British sovereignty claims while recognizing Britain's administration of the islands, which lie about 480 kilometres from the Argentine coast.[1]
Trump calls his Falklands stance 'one of many' under review
Trump told the BBC separately that he always reviews every position and that the Falklands question is just one of many under review. In the GB News interview, he said he had asked NATO and Britain's former prime minister, Keir Starmer, why no ships had been sent to help against Iran, and that Starmer told him none were available. He added that NATO members drawing oil from the Strait of Hormuz had also stayed out, and that the remarks followed his earlier suggestion that the US could revise its neutral stance if Britain did not raise defence spending.[1], [2]
Britain and Argentina respond as a 2013 vote looms over the dispute
Britain's government said the islanders are British with a right to determine their own future and that its commitment to them is unwavering, pointing to a 2013 referendum in which 99.8 percent voted to remain a British overseas territory. The prime minister's spokesman, Tom Wells, separately called the government's position long-standing and unwavering. In Buenos Aires, President Javier Milei welcomed Trump's remarks and said something major had happened regarding what he called Argentina's most cherished claim, ahead of a televised address on the matter. The 1982 war lasted 10 weeks and killed 649 Argentine troops, 255 British service members and 3 islanders.[1], [2]
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