Tri-Service

Britain And Argentina Agree To Improved Relationship

Britain and Argentina have agreed to an improved relationship, with closer co-operation in areas including trade and security.

A joint statement has been agreed between the two nations after a series of high-level meetings in Buenos Aires with Sir Alan Duncan - the first Foreign Office Minister to visit Argentina since 2009.

It's the first positive statement on South Atlantic issues since 1999, which set out a commitment to work together on issues affecting the South Atlantic and the Falkland Islands (their capital, Stanley, is pictured above). Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alan Duncan said:

"The UK and Argentina are building a positive relationship based on areas where we so clearly agree. Over the past two days I have held meetings which have helped us to reach agreements. The UK and Argentina have a broad relationship that goes beyond our differences."

"I am pleased we have agreed the Falkland Islands are free to set up flight connections with other countries in the region. A monthly stopover in Argentina will see a further arrangement similar to that which exists already.

"The South Atlantic Dialogue will seek to build cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Of course this will not include the issue of sovereignty.

"The UK continues to strongly support the rights of the Falkland Islanders and our position on sovereignty has not changed - there can be no dialogue on this unless the Falkland Islanders so wish.

"It’s clear to me that Argentina is open for business. The measures agreed today demonstrate we can make progress through dialogue."

During the visit Sir Alan met Argentina President Mauricio Macri, who says the country will hold 'high-level' talks with the UK over the Falklands at UN General Assembly next week.

Mr Macri was elected in November, pledging to "bring Argentina in from the cold" after over 10 years of rule by Nestor and Cristina Kirchner, who made reclaiming the Falklands a priority of their rule.

The new President, while insisting he is not renouncing Argentina’s claim to the islands, says he wants to chart a calmer course than his predecessor, establishing good business and political relations with the UK.

In the joint statement, the two countries agreed to work toward removing restrictive measures around the oil and gas industry, shipping and fishing affecting the Falkland Islands in the coming months.

Argentina President Mauricio Macri with First Lady Juliana Awada during his inauguration last year

Both delegations expressed support for a project to identify the remains of unknown Argentine soldiers buried in the Falkland Islands, emphasising the humanitarian nature of this work.

The statement sets out areas of closer co-operation for the two countries, including through increasing trade links, uncovering new investment opportunities, strengthening cultural ties, tackling corruption and organised crime, and increasing links in science and technology.

Both countries set out the need to tackle effectively threats to international peace and security, and agreed to explore opportunities to work more closely together, while the statement reaffirmed Britain's support for Argentina's G20 presidency in 2018.

The UK government says none of the discussions or the statement will affect the sovereignty of the islands, with Britain still clear in its support of the rights of the islanders.