The Question of the Malvinas Islands, understood as the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime spaces, has its starting point on January 3, 1833.

That day the United Kingdom, breaking the Argentine territorial integrity, illegally occupied the islands and evicted the Argentine authorities, preventing their return as well as the settlement of Argentines from the continent.

Ever since then, Argentina has consistently denounced the usurpation of the United Kingdom and reaffirmed its sovereignty over the island, as provided by the Argentine National Constitution, which states that the recovery in accordance with international law of this part of the Argentine territory embodies a permanent objective of the Argentine Republic.

The Question of the Malvinas Islands has been classified by the United Nations as a special and particular colonial case that involves a sovereignty dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom which must be resolved through negotiations between the both parties. The Organization of American States has adopted a similar approach to this matter.

Argentina also has the support of the Latin America and the Caribbean countries and the 54 African countries, which have recognised the legitimate sovereignty rights of the Argentine Republic over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. Most other countries from other regions also support the resumption of negotiations between the two parties in order to reach a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute.

The Argentine Government intends to recover the islands in a peaceful manner, in accordance with the principles of International Law and taking into account the interests of its inhabitants. However, the United Kingdom have so far ignored the consistent calls to resume sovereignty negotiations from the Argentine Republic and the international community.

In addition, the United Kingdom has been carrying out unilateral activities over the islands, which include the exploration and exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, as well as conducting military exercises.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cancilleria.gob.ar/en/foreign-policy/question-malvinas-islands