The US is officially neutral over sovereignty of the islands but recognises that Britain administers them.
The US recognises that the UK administers the Falklands (Image: Getty)
The United States could oppose British soveriengty over the Falkland Islands if it does not increase its defence spending, it is reported. Pentagon officials want the UK to spend 5% of GDP on defence as it reviews allies’ commitment to NATO. The US believes that the defence investment plan, announced by the then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in June, is not sufficient. The aim is to “incentivise and enable the UK to step up in a major way”, according to a US official.
In July, the Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, suggested that committing to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 without a funding plan could lead to Britain “paying a heavy price”. He added that he was committed to the UK’s overall goal and spending pledges made to NATO, but he did not want to pre-empt future spending details. The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, refused at the time to commit to the same 3% target by 2030.
Sovereignty over the Falklands lies with the UK (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Under Sir Keir, the Government committed to spending 3.5% by 2035, and expressed an “ambition” to reach 3% in the next Parliament.
The US is neutral over who has sovereignty over the Falklands, which is also claimed by Argentina, but it recognises that the UK administers the islands.
When asked if this position could change, a US official told The Telegraph: “I can say that they [conversations] are candid and nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek.”
The newspaper understands that using the Falklands as leverage is being discussed in the Pentagon.
It comes after a US memo reportedly suggested that European “imperial possessions” could be examined, which would include the British overseas territory in the South Atlantic.
Patrick Watts MBE was the radio station manager in Stanley when the Argentines invaded in 1982. He stoically continued to broadcast after soldiers burst into his studio.
He previously told The Express when asked what he would tell the US President: “Please leave the Falklands alone. We’re a peaceful community, a financially autonomous community that wishes to remain British, and there’s no desire to change to any other regime, or under any other country’s control. Leave us out of this equation.”
He added: “There are people here, I’ll be honest with you, there are people that I talked to who are very concerned about what might happen, because considering Trump walked into Venezuela, and got what he wanted there, and then he, just suddenly out of the blue, went and decided to attack Iran, and things seemed to have not gone according to plan there.
“People here, there are people I’ve met who are very concerned about what might happen down here.”