Paratroopers simulate amphibious assault amid increased ‘sabre-rattling’ by Argentina’s president
British soldiers are training in the Falklands to recapture the islands amid mounting intimidation from Argentina.
Around 150 British Paratroopers joined locally trained reservists to “war-game” an amphibious assault followed by close-quarters combat missions across the territory, according to The Times.
The six-day training exercise sought to emulate the Operation Sutton landings that repelled the Argentine invasion in May 1982.
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, warned last month that his country could “act swiftly” to “recover” the South Atlantic archipelago, which he has long claimed is “under illegal foreign occupation”.
He threatened at the United Nations General Assembly in New York “to take matters into our own hands” and assert Argentine sovereignty.
He said the islanders’ self-determination “does not apply in this case, since the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute”.
On Monday, Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, told the Commons he would do “whatever it takes” to defend the “clear and declared will of the islanders” to remain British.
Falkland Islanders displayed their desire to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour.
Earlier this month, around 150 soldiers from B Company 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, joined about 100 reservists from the Falkland Islands defence force for an amphibious landing exercise on the territory.
Major Aaron Nunkoosing, the company’s commanding officer, told The Times that the training “gave us the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our forefathers and gain a small insight into what they persevered through to achieve victory in 1982”.
The Paratroopers sailed to the San Carlos settlement in East Falkland aboard HMS Medway, a River-class offshore patrol vessel, before transferring to inflatable landing craft.
While British soldiers have been known to recreate battle scenarios from the 74-day conflict, it is thought that a landing exercise has not been simulated for several years.
Once ashore, the soldiers met the reservists and completed a 20-mile trek to Goose Green, an airfield where Argentine forces established a stronghold during the war.
The Falkland Islands defence force is a locally recruited volunteer military unit that supports the 150 or so British Army soldiers stationed on the overseas territory as a deterrent.
From the assembly point, the soldiers conducted a dawn raid against a communications node, with RAF Typhoon fighter jets providing close air support.
The islands are defended by four RAF Typhoon fighter jets, a Sky Sabre missile air defence system and the River-class patrol vessel.
After the exercise, S-29 helicopters transported the troops to Wireless Ridge, near Port Stanley, for operations including a “tactical advance into battle” and close-combat exercises.
Major Nunkoosing said the exercise, codenamed Cape Upholder, had been “an outstanding opportunity for our soldiers to train alongside Royal Navy and Royal Air Force capabilities in a challenging environment”.
He added: “We have also explored how the cyber and space domains could affect missions like this in the modern era and simulated enemy drone strikes to highlight weaknesses and areas for improvements in our tactics, techniques and procedures.”
On Tuesday, Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, approved a new oil field development in waters around the Falkland Islands.
The Sea Lion field is thought to contain up to 1.7 billion barrels of oil and could be in production as early as next year.
The decision triggered an immediate reaction from Argentina, with Mr Milei filing legal action seeking a halt to the drilling.
The filing, lodged at the Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, said Argentina would seek to preserve “sovereign rights over its continental shelf and prevent activities authorised unilaterally and illegally by the UK”.
This week, James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said the Conservatives would “reinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories”, amid what he described as “sabre-rattling over the Falklands” by Argentina.
He said of his plan for a missile defence system known as the Britannia Shield: “It would be for the defence of the UK, but we must also stand by our overseas territories.
“With our base on Cyprus attacked and Argentina sabre-rattling over the Falklands, I make this promise – when we procure those air defence systems for our nation, we will always, in parallel, reinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We maintain a permanent presence on the Falklands.
“This was a routine military exercise. Every rotation of British troops in the Falklands conducts similar training as part of their deployment.”
British troops have carried out a major military exercise in the Falkland Islands, simulating the recapture of the strategically important South Atlantic territory in the event of an Argentine invasion. The six-day operation involved approximately 150 British paratroopers working alongside around 100 local reservists from the Falkland Islands Defence Force. The exercise comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Britain and Argentina, following increasingly forceful statements by Argentine President Javier Milei about his country’s claim to sovereignty over the islands. Although the British government has described the training as part of its regular military preparations, the timing has attracted considerable international attention.
The military exercise, known as Cape Upholder, was designed to recreate important elements of Britain’s successful operation to retake the Falklands in 1982. During that conflict, Argentine forces invaded the islands in April, prompting the British government to organise a major military operation to restore control. British troops travelled thousands of miles across the Atlantic before launching an amphibious landing at San Carlos on East Falkland. After 74 days of fighting, Argentine forces surrendered in June 1982.
The latest exercise involved soldiers from B Company of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, alongside local defence personnel. The troops practised amphibious landings, overnight movements, simulated attacks and close-quarters combat. One particularly demanding part of the exercise involved a 20-mile overnight march towards Goose Green, an important location during the 1982 conflict. British forces also conducted a simulated dawn raid against a communications position, supported by RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft.
The exercise demonstrated Britain’s intention to maintain a credible military presence in the South Atlantic. The Falkland Islands are located approximately 8,000 miles from the United Kingdom, making military logistics and rapid reinforcement particularly challenging. Any serious security crisis would require careful coordination between the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The ability to deploy troops, transport equipment and maintain supplies over such a considerable distance is therefore an essential part of Britain’s defence strategy.
Relations between London and Buenos Aires have become increasingly complicated following renewed statements from President Javier Milei. Argentina has maintained its sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands for decades, arguing that the territory was unlawfully taken by Britain in the nineteenth century. The British government rejects this position and maintains that the islands are a British Overseas Territory whose population has the right to determine its own political future.
Milei has repeatedly stated that Argentina intends to recover the islands, although he has also expressed a preference for achieving this through diplomatic and peaceful means. In September 2026, he described the Falklands as being under illegal foreign occupation and suggested that Argentina could take action to advance its sovereignty claim. His comments have increased diplomatic tensions and raised concerns among residents of the islands about the possibility of further pressure from Buenos Aires.
The disagreement is not simply about territory. The Falkland Islands occupy an important strategic position in the South Atlantic, close to major maritime routes and the Antarctic region. Their geographical location gives them significance for military operations, scientific research, fishing and access to natural resources. Control of the surrounding maritime areas also has considerable economic importance because of their potential oil and gas reserves.
One particularly controversial issue concerns the development of the Sea Lion oil field, located in waters north of the Falkland Islands. The project is believed to contain substantial petroleum reserves and could become an important source of future revenue for the islands. Britain has supported the development of offshore energy resources, while Argentina strongly objects to what it considers unauthorised exploration in disputed waters. The disagreement has become another source of tension between the two countries.
Argentina has threatened legal action against companies involved in oil exploration and has challenged British decisions through international legal institutions. President Milei’s government has also indicated that it intends to use diplomatic and economic measures to defend Argentina’s position. Britain, meanwhile, has insisted that it will protect the interests of Falkland Islanders and reject attempts to intimidate businesses operating under the islands’ legal framework.
The British government has made clear that the wishes of the islanders remain central to its position. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of participating voters supported remaining a British Overseas Territory. Only three votes were cast against that option. Britain argues that this result demonstrates the population’s clear preference and supports its position that the people living on the islands should determine their own future.
However, Argentina disputes the political significance of the referendum, arguing that the population was established through British colonial settlement and that the question of sovereignty cannot be decided solely by the current residents. This disagreement reflects two competing principles in international relations: territorial sovereignty and the right of peoples to self-determination. Both countries have repeatedly used these arguments to support their respective positions.
From a military perspective, Britain has maintained a permanent defence presence in the Falklands since the 1982 conflict. The garrison includes approximately 150 British Army personnel, supported by modern aircraft, air-defence systems and naval patrol capabilities. RAF Typhoon fighter jets operate from RAF Mount Pleasant, providing air surveillance and rapid response capabilities. The British government also maintains a naval presence through patrol vessels operating in the South Atlantic.
The latest exercise highlighted how military technology has changed since the 1982 war. Modern operations increasingly depend on drones, cyber capabilities, satellite communications and advanced surveillance systems. During Cape Upholder, British troops explored how cyberattacks, space-based capabilities and simulated enemy drone strikes could affect operations. This reflects the growing importance of preparing soldiers for conflicts that involve both traditional weapons and modern technological threats.
Another important element is cooperation with the Falkland Islands Defence Force. This locally recruited volunteer organisation provides additional support to British military personnel and contributes to the protection of the islands. Training alongside regular British soldiers helps reservists develop their capabilities and understand how they would operate during a serious security emergency. It also strengthens confidence among residents that their security arrangements remain effective.
Nevertheless, it is important not to interpret the exercise as proof that an Argentine invasion is imminent. Military forces regularly conduct realistic training to prepare for possible emergencies, particularly in strategically sensitive locations. The Ministry of Defence has described the operation as a routine exercise within the wider programme of military training conducted by forces stationed in the Falklands. The exercise took place against a background of diplomatic tension, but this does not necessarily mean that Britain expects an immediate military confrontation.
The United Kingdom also faces the challenge of maintaining its overseas territories while managing limited defence resources. Protecting the Falklands requires significant logistical support, including military personnel, aircraft, naval vessels and modern equipment. At a time when Britain is also dealing with security concerns in Europe and other international regions, defence planners must decide how to distribute resources effectively. However, abandoning or weakening the permanent military presence could create uncertainty about Britain’s ability to protect the islands.
For Argentina, the sovereignty dispute remains an important issue of national identity and foreign policy. Successive Argentine governments have maintained the claim regardless of their political differences. President Milei’s approach combines strong public statements with an emphasis on diplomatic and economic pressure. Although his government has not announced a military operation to seize the islands, its rhetoric has encouraged renewed attention to the dispute.
International diplomacy will therefore remain essential. Britain and Argentina need to avoid allowing political disagreements to develop into unnecessary confrontation. Both countries have important economic and diplomatic relationships with other nations, and a military conflict would create serious humanitarian, financial and strategic consequences. Negotiations, international law and peaceful dialogue remain the most appropriate ways to manage the disagreement.
Ultimately, the Falklands exercise demonstrates that Britain continues to take the defence of its South Atlantic territory seriously. The ability to conduct amphibious operations, coordinate military forces and work alongside local reservists provides an important element of deterrence. At the same time, Argentina’s continuing sovereignty claim means that diplomatic tensions are unlikely to disappear in the immediate future.
In conclusion, British troops training to retake the Falkland Islands have highlighted the continuing importance of the 1982 conflict and the unresolved dispute between Britain and Argentina. The Cape Upholder exercise demonstrated Britain’s military preparedness and its determination to maintain security in the South Atlantic. While President Javier Milei continues to challenge British sovereignty through political and diplomatic statements, the UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the islanders and respecting their right to determine their future. The situation remains sensitive, particularly because of disagreements over offshore oil resources and territorial sovereignty. Nevertheless, military preparedness should be accompanied by responsible diplomacy. Both countries have an interest in preventing another conflict and ensuring that the future of the Falkland Islands is addressed without unnecessary loss of life.