Pentagon document suggests reviewing diplomatic support for the islands as punishment for British stance in the Iran war; London says sovereignty is “unalterable”
The United Kingdom government stated this Friday (April 24, 2026) that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands belongs to the British and remains unchanged. The statement was given by a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after the news agency Reuters disclose the content of an email from the Pentagon that suggested a review of the United States’ stance on the territory.
The North American internal message evaluated options for (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) that do not support US operations in the war with Iran. The text suggested reevaluating diplomatic support for long-standing European “imperial possessions”, explicitly citing the Falklands, located close to Argentina.
“We could not be clearer about the UK’s position on the Falkland Islands. It is long-standing, it is unchanged,” the spokesperson told reporters. He added that the islands’ right to self-determination is fundamental and that the British position has been clearly expressed to successive US administrations.
PRESSURE
Asked whether Starmer considered the threat an attempt to pressure Washington to force the United Kingdom’s entry into the Iran conflict, the spokesman stated that the prime minister is unaffected and “will always act in accordance with the national interest”.
The United Kingdom and Argentina fought over the islands, after an unsuccessful Argentine attempt to regain control of the territory. The conflict resulted in the deaths of around 650 Argentine and 255 British soldiers before the South American country surrendered.
