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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Andy Burnham<\/a> has affirmed that he will do \u201cwhatever it takes\u201d to keep the Falklands Islands<\/a> a British territory following claims of \u201csabre-rattling\u201d by Argentina<\/a>.<\/p>\n Giving a speech in the Commons on Monday, the prime minister said he had raised the sovereignty issue with US president Donald Trump<\/a> as well as the \u201cclear and declared will of the islanders to remain British\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI emphasise this point in my speech to the [UN] General Assembly, and that we will also always do whatever it takes to uphold their will,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n On Monday, Mr Burnham also opened an investigation into reports of harassment against Falklands islanders after alleged intimidation from Argentina. <\/p>\n Last month Argentina\u2019s president Javier Milei<\/a> claimed the Falkland Islands were \u201cunder illegal foreign occupation\u201d by the UK. He also threatened \u201cto take matters into our own hands\u201d as he spoke at the UN General Assembly<\/a> in New York.<\/p>\n He said the islanders\u2019 self-determination \u201cdoes not apply in this case, since the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking to GB News over the weekend, Stacy Bragger, acting chair of the Falkland Islands legislative assembly, accused Argentina of trying undermine the local economy.<\/p>\n “This is nothing new for us, sadly. We’re used to Argentina trying to undermine our economy, so Milei obviously has elections coming up, so he’s using the Falklands issue unfortunately again,\u201d he told the outlet on Friday.<\/p>\n A Downing Street spokesperson said the government was looking into the reports, calling any attempts at intimidation \u201ccompletely unacceptable\u201d as he reiterated that support for the Falkland Islanders and their right to determine their own future \u201cremained unwavering.\u201d<\/p>\n Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservatives would \u201creinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories\u201d, amid what he described as Argentinian \u201csabre-rattling over the Falklands\u201d.<\/p>\n He said of his plan for a missile defence system known as Britannia Shield: \u201cIt would be for the defence of the United Kingdom<\/a> but we must also stand by our overseas territories.<\/p>\n \u201cWith our base on Cyprus attacked and Argentina sabre-rattling over the Falklands, I make this promise \u2013 when we procure those air defence systems for our nation, we will always, in parallel, reinforce our sovereign bases and overseas territories.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Liberation monument in Stanley, Falkland Islands (PA)<\/p>\nArgentina\u2019s president has claimed the Falklands are under \u2018illegal foreign occupation\u2019 (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n