Prince’s Falklands tour set to stir tension-FT

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November 10, 2011

Prince’s Falklands tour set to stir tension

By James Blitz, Defence and Diplomatic Editor



Prince William will be posted to the Falkland Islands for six weeks next February and March in a move that could trigger renewed sovereignty tensions between Britain and Argentina.

The timing of the RAF posting is particularly sensitive because it will come just before the 30th anniversary of the 1982 conflict, in which Britain retook the islands after an Argentine invasion. Argentina continues to assert its territorial claim.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday that the prince would be undertaking a routine deployment on the islands as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.

The foreign office said the prince’s deployment, as part of a four-strong crew, should not be seen as a provocative act.

“We value our relations with Argentina and regard it as an important international partner,” said a spokeswoman.

The view of British officials is that it would be unusual if Prince William were not deployed to the Falklands as a routine part of his search-and-rescue training.

Britain and Argentina have regularly clashed diplomatically over the issue of Falklands sovereignty in recent years.

Speculation two years ago that the prince could be sent there prompted condemnation from Jorge Taina, Argentina’s foreign minister. He said: “This only serves to once again highlight Britain’s ongoing military presence in land and sea areas that are part of the Argentine republic’s national territories.”

Last summer, President Cristina Kirchner accused David Cameron of “mediocrity bordering on stupidity” when the prime minister said the islands should remain a British territory if that was the wish of its inhabitants.

Ms Kirchner has insisted the UK and Argentina should open negotiations on the islands’ future, but Britain has firmly refused, saying there is nothing to negotiate.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011.