India reiterated its support to the resumption of negotiations to find a solution to the sovereignty issue relating to the ‘Question of the Malvinas Islands’ (Falkland Islands) in accordance with the Resolutions of the UNGA and the Special Committee on Decolonization.

Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar visited Argentina and presided over a Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) along with Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship.

Facts on Falkland Islands:

• The Falkland Islands are situated in the South Atlantic, some 400 miles from the South American mainland and 850 miles north of the Antarctic Circle.

• The Falkland Islands are an archipelago, consisting of two main islands (East and West Falkland) and 778 smaller islands, with a total area of approximately 4,700 sqm.

• It is a British Overseas Territory with full internal self-government.

• Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands.

• Fisheries are the most important economic activity.

• In 2009, a new Constitution was established which provides enhanced local democracy, internal self-government and enshrines the right of self-determination. In 2013, the people held a referendum which was overseen by international observers, where 99.8 per cent of the electorate voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.

Conflict over Falkland Islands

• The Malvinas Islands, which are also called Falkland Islands, have been a bitter topic between Argentina and UK since 1982. 

• Argentina believes the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982. 

• The United Kingdom sent troops and Argentina lost the two-month war for the South Atlantic archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

• In a joint statement in 1989, Argentina and the United Kingdom had agreed to normalise their bilateral relations and to apply a formula for sovereignty by which both countries safeguarded their positions in the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. 

• From 1989 to date, the review of the Question of the Malvinas Islands takes place within the framework of the Special Committee on Decolonization. 

• In June 2022, the Special Committee on Decolonization adopted a resolution requesting the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to consolidate the current process of dialogue through the resumption of negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute relating to the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

• By the terms of the text titled “Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)”, the Special Committee regretted that, despite the widespread international support for a negotiation between the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom, the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions on this question has not yet started.

• By other terms, it reiterated that the way to put an end to the special and particular colonial situation in the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) is the peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute over sovereignty between the two Governments.

• Argentina still claims the islands. London says the Falklands are a self-governing entity under its protection. 

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