Argentine President Javier Milei has canceled a trip to London that had been planned for late October, amid a deepening crisis in relations with the United Kingdom over sovereignty of the Malvinas (Falkland Islands), a territory disputed by the two nations for nearly 200 years.
The visit to the United Kingdom had been on Milei’s agenda since the start of his presidency, when the archipelago was not a priority for his foreign policy. However, the trip was officially cancelled on the afternoon of September 10. A government official confirmed the decision to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo.
The government did not explain the sudden change of plans. The decision came a week after Javier Milei stated in a national broadcast that the Malvinas belong to Argentina “by history and by right” and announced tougher measures against violations of the country’s sovereignty.
Since then, Argentine authorities have begun procedures to sanction 60 entrepreneurs and companies for extracting natural resources on the archipelago, have launched criminal lawsuits against oil firms operating on the islands, and have indicated that the development of a naval base is a priority in the 2027 budget.
Trump and military cooperation with Argentina
One of the main factors behind Milei’s shift in foreign policy is his ally Donald Trump. Early last week, the U.S. President said he does not rule out reviewing Washington’s neutrality regarding the sovereignty of the archipelago.
U.S. media had already speculated about this possibility after Donald Trump‘s dispute with the United Kingdom earlier this year. At that time, the disagreement stemmed from London’s hesitant stance on the war that Washington launched against Iran.
On Thursday, September 10, the U.S. Department of State approved a potential sale of helicopters and other military equipment to Argentina, valued at roughly 140 million dollars.
Britain strengthens rhetoric on the islands
The United Kingdom has already responded to Milei’s rhetoric. On September 4, a day after his speech, UK Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting said the country’s commitment to the Malvinas is “absolute and unwavering”.
On September 9, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Parliament that he would always respect the will of the islanders. In the 2013 referendum, 99.8% of voters chose to keep the islands as a British Overseas Territory.
“We will be ruthless in defending this,” Andy Burnham said. When asked about the defence budget, he also pledged to increase funding for the sector, assuring that the government will provide the necessary resources.
The push to raise British defence spending is linked to more than the current Malvinas tension. Donald Trump regularly criticises European allies, including the United Kingdom, for what he sees as insufficient NATO spending compared with the United States.
The United Kingdom’s intention to boost defence spending pre‑dated the present escalation. In June, shortly before leaving office, then‑Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the country’s largest defence investment plan since the Cold War — 15 billion pounds over the next four years.
The issue now carries added significance. Last week, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in his column for the Daily Mail, urged Andy Burnham to state unequivocally that the Malvinas are British and to demonstrate the practical capacity to fulfil that commitment, including by deploying additional forces.
“It does not matter if it is extra planes, troops or ships. The Argentines must now understand that the UK has a deep and unwavering commitment to defend democracy,” Boris Johnson wrote, referring to the referendum in which islanders voted to remain under British administration.
Boris Johnson met with Javier Milei in 2024 during a regional tour to promote his memoirs. After a meeting that lasted over an hour, the British politician reportedly promised to arrange a meeting between Javier Milei and Mick Jagger, whom the Argentine president admires.
In the same column, Boris Johnson described Javier Milei as an “Anglophile and Thatcherite,” noting his admiration for former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who led the government during the 1982 war over the Malvinas.
Boris Johnson added that he does not believe Javier Milei seeks a direct conflict with the United Kingdom, but suggested that a difficult re‑election campaign may be prompting the Argentine president to stir nationalist sentiment.
Source: Folha de S.Paulo
