President Javier Milei’s recent speech defending Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Malvinas Islands in the South Atlantic surprised many local political figures, who described it as a “180° turn” on his previous stances and actions on the matter.

On Thursday, during a televised address, Milei aligned himself with the historic position Argentina has had on the islands, defending the country’s rights over the territory and its natural resources. He also announced plans to impose tougher sanctions on companies carrying out an oil drilling project in the area, and higher military presence and funding for national defense.

Most of this, the Argentine opposition said, has to do with preexisting laws and projects aimed at protecting the nation’s interests.

However, coming from Milei, this stance is new. In the past, Milei has vowed to “recover” the Malvinas, but has also made ambiguous and controversial comments on the issue, including seemingly defending the islanders’ right to self-determination.

“We want to turn Argentina into such a power that [islanders] choose to be Argentine, without any further arguments or convincing required,” he said on April 2, 2025, during a ceremony honoring the Malvinas War veterans.

Argentina’s historic position, which has been upheld by the United Nations in a 1965 resolution, is that the Malvinas were colonized by the British and the current population was implanted; therefore, islanders do not have a right to self-determination.

Milei’s announcements come at a time in which tensions over the sovereignty dispute have been revived following the 2026 World Cup match between Argentina and England, which ended 2-1 with Argentine players displaying a banner that said: “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

The topic has been on the public and news agenda since then — and it is possibly the one cause that unites all........

© Buenos Aires Herald