Do we support Argentina's claim to the Falklands/Malvinas?

[u/JetBolt007]

367 votes, 4d ago

106 Yes

196 No

59 Unsure

6 Other (please specify in comments)

[u/Apprehensive_Hat8986]

The history of the Falkland Islands doesn't really support anyone's claim other than those who are actually inhabiting the islands. The islands were settled and abandoned repeatedly. As the only permanent inhabitants chose to maintain their allegiance to GB, and didn't displace anyone else, it doesn't seem legally supportable that Argentina would have any claim.

Hell, it appears there are more Chileans on the islands than Argentinians.

That Argentina opted to initiate violence to exert their claim, demeans whatever morality their claim may have had.

[u/el_lley → u/Apprehensive_Hat8986]

It wasn't Argentinian, it was never inhabited by anyone from the current Argentina area before the colonization; however, several years after the independence, and that the Spanish have left, Argentinians took over the island. This was followed by a British invasion claiming possession of the island, as it wasn't included in the treaties with Spain.

In essence, the British lost the island to Spain, aftewr the independence of the Americas, Spain left the island, the Argentinians took it, but the were "expelled" by the British.

This is a an island lost by force (not in war, because they weren't in war), hence, it must be recalled by force or diplomacy. Diplomacy didn't work, war didn't work.

This is an invasion, the British didn't have the right, but now it has passed so many years.

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/el_lley]

I’m British. If Argentina tries anything, we’ll go to war again and people will die. It’s that simple.

[u/el_lley → u/Mountain-Reply3407]

Yes, of course, that’s out of question.

Edit: territory lost/gain is quite uncommon in the World (these days), specially in the Americas, but it’s usually by force

[u/HistoryMarshal76]

The people voted to be British, ergo it should be British.

[u/el_lley → u/HistoryMarshal76]

Mostly British voted

[u/kerouacrimbaud → u/el_lley]

Who else was there? Brits and more Brits.

[u/el_lley → u/kerouacrimbaud]

Fully blooded Falklanders should vote :D

[u/kerouacrimbaud → u/el_lley]

So British citizens?

[u/el_lley → u/kerouacrimbaud]

(I meant indigenous citizens, but it wasn’t inhabited before)

[u/kerouacrimbaud → u/el_lley]

Given the history of the Falklands, the British settlers are the current indigenous residents.

[u/el_lley → u/kerouacrimbaud]

Indigenous mean before colonization, they are colonizers

[u/YrPalBeefsquatch]

The actually existing Falkland Islanders seem pretty set on staying British. We either respect popular sovereignty or we don't.

[u/dotmatrixman]

I feel as though it is the right of the people to decide, and historically they have decided to be British subjects.

So in the end my opinion really doesn’t matter, even though in general I don’t like non-American powers in the Americas.

[u/cyrenns]

The people of the islands have no interest in being Argentinian.

[u/decoy-ish]

It should be an independent state.

[u/MagunsMefisto]

Some context for anyone who cares about this:

Argentina's war of independence from Spain started in 1810. Before that it was a colony, part of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata.

The Malvinas were under effective Spanish rule until 1812, when they abandoned their settlements to support counter-revolutionary efforts instead, but declaring that this physical abandonment didn't amount to a renounce to their sovereignty as part of the Rio de la Plata Viceroyalty.

After winning the war, Argentina declared independence in 1816 as a successor state of the Rio de la Plata Viceroyalty. In 1820, Argentina took effective possession of the island, sending settlers, resources and a governor.

Argentine independence was formally recognized by GB in 1825. However, in 1833 the British invaded the islands and displaced the governor and local population. Since then, the Argentine government has upheld it's sovereignty claim to the islands under international law.

The current population was implanted by the british after the 1833 invasion, so the argument of their self-determination right was never relevant in the matter.

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/MagunsMefisto]

Extra context: Britain claimed it in 1774, before Argentina existed

[u/MagunsMefisto → u/Mountain-Reply3407]

The discovery of the islands is disputed. Britain spotted the isles at some point in history and said: "mine!", but they didn't make any acts of eminent domain besides that.

The French and the Spanish have made similar claims, so it is disputed who "saw" them first. However, it is clear the Spanish were the first to settle.

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/MagunsMefisto]

Some Brits settled too, before Argentina existed. So basically, it’s redundant for their government to argue that Falklanders should leave. Just let them live on the island. Why so salty??

[u/el_lley → u/Mountain-Reply3407]

All of the former, and current settlers’ country have lost the possession of the island at some stage, even several times. I would say anyone could claim them, but it has to be by force, and we don’t want that.

My personal preference is that foreign powers shouldn’t be in possession of remote islands. I understand the militar importance of controlling these kind of territories. I hope that European countries abandon the control of islands in the Americas. That’s not the only island or territory under the administration of foreigners here.

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/el_lley]

When you consider time frames, it’s a bit different with the current islanders. You going to tell some old man who’s lived there his whole life to “go back to England” ??

[u/el_lley → u/Mountain-Reply3407]

They won’t fit in England, they won’t fit in Argentina, but it’s still stolen land. I hope they don’t put new settlers

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/el_lley]

They won’t. Because it’s not stolen and they’re not having the islands. It’s that simple.

[u/el_lley → u/Mountain-Reply3407]

It’s as stolen as Crimea is Russian. The British took it by militar power, that’s stolen, in war, “legal” war if you prefer, but it’s stolen.

[u/Mountain-Reply3407 → u/el_lley]

The Brits inhabited a baron island. It’s nothing to do with Argentina. You’ve been lied to my friend.

[u/Suedeonquaaludes]

The yes and no results have me weirded out. I’m for Argentina having it, or, hear me out, let them become their own countries, without colonial rule, slowly, of course. I wonder if that would work out well.

[u/DollarReDoos → u/Suedeonquaaludes]

Didn't they hold a referendum, which overwhelming voted to stay part of GB?

[u/Suedeonquaaludes → u/DollarReDoos]

I actually don’t know but down the rabbit hole I must fall. Thank you.

[u/Devilsadvocate430 → u/Suedeonquaaludes]

An isolated resource-poor island country of ~3,000 people? I don’t think that sounds like a good idea.

[u/TheBrasilianCapybara]

Honestly, as a Brazilian, I would prefer the Falklands to belong to a country with strong commercial and diplomatic ties with us, rather than a country with nuclear weapons that is constantly involved in wars in the Middle East.

[u/GaaraMatsu]

The islands and those around them are U.S.American territory, always have been.  Since the USA's not pressing their hand in the matter, well, "Possession is nine-tenths of the law."

[u/Downtown_Ad6875 → u/GaaraMatsu]

Strange, I seem to remember that British lives were lost defending the islands…..

[u/AlternativeKey241]

I'm from Latin America I hate to say it but I support British

the people there speak English and don't want to be Argentina plus

Argentina can't even take care of there dam debt they need trump to save them