Argentina ends Falklands oil deal

[Lov3ll]

Argentina is pushing for talks on the future of the Falklands
Argentina has scrapped a deal with the UK to share any oil found off the Falkland Islands - days ahead of the anniversary of the war for the islands.
Argentina says co-operation with the UK had to be linked to reopening talks over the sovereignty of the islands.
Argentine foreign minister Jorge Taiana said the UK used the deal to justify "illegitimate" claims to the islands.
Monday marks 25 years since the start of the War when UK forces reclaimed the islands after an Argentine invasion.

Oil exploration

Scientists estimate that there may be billions of dollars worth of oil under the waters around the Falklands, which are known to Argentina as the Malvinas.
The 1995 agreement between the UK and Argentina is aimed at encouraging oil exploration in the area.
Mr Taiana said Argentina had taken the step after the UK had unilaterally drilled for oil.
He said: "The Argentine decision brings an end...to an instrument the United Kingdom sought to use to justify its illegitimate and unilateral action to explore for resources that belong to Argentines."
Mr Taiana added: "Argentina is not opposed to co-operating with the United Kingdom, but only if this contributes to renewing dialogue over sovereignty."

'Political courage'

Since coming to office in 2003, Argentine President Nestor Kirchner has increased calls for the UK to discuss the sovereignty of the islands.
The 72-day war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982 claimed the lives of 255 Britons and 655 Argentines.
Last week, Tony Blair said going to war over the Falklands took "political courage" and had been "the right thing to do".
Argentina claims it inherited the islands from Spain before they were occupied by Britain in 1833.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6501693.stm

Not really too clever ending a deal which only benefits you rofl

[Fade]

rofl Not really too clever ending a deal which only benefits you

True, but why share the cake when you can have all of it p-)

[h22chen]

Maybe they think they have a chance in winning the 2nd war?

[Ordie]

Maybe they think they have a chance in winning the 2nd war?

Nope

Posturing for the public on the anniversary date.

Argentina has alot to lose and nothing to gain.

Besides, Democratic nations normally do not go to war with each other.

[Hellfish]

Maybe they think they have a chance in winning the 2nd war?

Given the current sad state of the British armed forces - especially the RN - they might win.

[muttbutt]

Given the current sad state of the British armed forces - especially the RN - they might win.
As weakend as they are, the Argentine military is in worse shape, all the Brits would probably have to do would be to park an SSN off the coast and wave their tomahawks around..p-)

[CMNot]

There is a lot to be said for having 'blooded' soldiers, wouldn't take the greatest effort to pull troops from Iraq and Astan back to Britian to free up manpower to mobilise for going South. I have no doubt that since the Falklands contingencies have been in place in case this scenario ever re-arose.

First time round we had limited air strike capability, which TLAM (thanks America) goes a long way to help rectify.

How brave might the Argentine elite be when they could be targeted in comfy Buenos Aires? We'll see when its their arse on the line not just poor conscript kids.

Pure unadultered BS. Nothing gets a nations hackles up quite like an attack on sovereign soil, take a look at 9/11 for a good recent example.

[Dr_ColoSSus]

Given the current sad state of the British armed forces - especially the RN - they might win.



Wasn't there a thread on this topic not long ago?

[DeltaWhisky58]

I'm sorry, but this is not going to develop into yet another Argentina/UK/Falklands thread - we've had too many already.