THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Falkland Islands has been one of most disputed land masses
throughout the history. These lands have been a reason of dispute between
various states and kingdoms since a very long time. The Falkland Islands have been
subject to army standoffs, battles and even wars between different states at
different times.
Also in a certain time it remained completely inhabited and none of the states had any sort of settlement in the lands. It is worth mentioning that during World War I, in 1914, the British and the German navy faced against each other in the waters near the Falkland Islands where the British emerged victorious.
There has been a long history of battles for the ownership of these lands between different states and finally in 1982 Argentina and United Kingdom indulged themselves in a ten week long war. United Kingdom won the war and since then the Falkland Islands enjoys a status of self governed British territory. Although Argentina still claims the sovereignty of these islands.
Also in a certain time it remained completely inhabited and none of the states had any sort of settlement in the lands. It is worth mentioning that during World War I, in 1914, the British and the German navy faced against each other in the waters near the Falkland Islands where the British emerged victorious.
There has been a long history of battles for the ownership of these lands between different states and finally in 1982 Argentina and United Kingdom indulged themselves in a ten week long war. United Kingdom won the war and since then the Falkland Islands enjoys a status of self governed British territory. Although Argentina still claims the sovereignty of these islands.
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| Position of the Falkland Islands |
HISTORY OF FOREIGN SETTLEMENT IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
The Falkland Islands is a small group of islands located towards the bottom of South America. This whole game of capture and retain of the Falkland Islands
started back in the 1700s. We don't know for sure, who first discovered these islands but in 1690,a British mariner by the name John Strong found these lands.
In the year 1765 the British came to these islands to settle there as it would be a strategic location for a naval base. But by the time they arrived,the French had already discovered these islands. The French arrived there in 1764 and had started settling there in small numbers.
In the year 1765 the British came to these islands to settle there as it would be a strategic location for a naval base. But by the time they arrived,the French had already discovered these islands. The French arrived there in 1764 and had started settling there in small numbers.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH
By the year 1867 the Spanish came to the
island and somehow convinced France to leave stating that Spain had a claim
over the lands. The diplomatic ties between France and Spain were quite well so
France agreed to leave. But before leaving, they warned the Spanish about the British settlement
and told them to prevent the British from claiming the lands.
After this event there occurred the army standoff between Great Britain and Spain which is also known as the Falkland Crisis. This almost led to a war between Britain and Spain but that didn't happen because at that point France didn't provide any backup towards Spain for a war. This led to a compromise where both the countries continued their settlements but didn’t pull back their claim over the lands.
After this event there occurred the army standoff between Great Britain and Spain which is also known as the Falkland Crisis. This almost led to a war between Britain and Spain but that didn't happen because at that point France didn't provide any backup towards Spain for a war. This led to a compromise where both the countries continued their settlements but didn’t pull back their claim over the lands.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE ARGENTINE
In 1774 the British vacated
the lands due to some reasons but they didn’t surrender their claims over the
land. In 1811 the Spanish also vacated the lands as Napoleon had captured
Spain. From 1811 to 1829 none of the European powers had their presence upon the
lands.
In 1829 a merchant, Luis Vernet settled in the islands to set up some business. He was form the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata. These United Provinces later became the Argentine Confederation and then Argentina which we know today.The Argentine Confederation also appointed him as the Governor of those lands. .
This move of Argentina threatened the British claim over the lands. Soon the British forces came and took control over the lands as Vernet didn’t have much support from the Argentine confederation. In 1940 Britain made these lands a crown colony and within a few years they declared Port Stanley as the capital.
From 1940 the British had hold the Falkland Islands strongly for the next century. In the meanwhile two world wars passed and the Argentine side made no claims over the islands. But suddenly, after 140 years, Argentina was in the mood to get back the lands which they claimed as theirs. This resulted in the war between Argentina and United Kingdom in 1982 and is known as the Falkland War.
In 1829 a merchant, Luis Vernet settled in the islands to set up some business. He was form the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata. These United Provinces later became the Argentine Confederation and then Argentina which we know today.The Argentine Confederation also appointed him as the Governor of those lands. .
This move of Argentina threatened the British claim over the lands. Soon the British forces came and took control over the lands as Vernet didn’t have much support from the Argentine confederation. In 1940 Britain made these lands a crown colony and within a few years they declared Port Stanley as the capital.
From 1940 the British had hold the Falkland Islands strongly for the next century. In the meanwhile two world wars passed and the Argentine side made no claims over the islands. But suddenly, after 140 years, Argentina was in the mood to get back the lands which they claimed as theirs. This resulted in the war between Argentina and United Kingdom in 1982 and is known as the Falkland War.
THE FALKLAND WAR OF 1982
Argentina and the United Kingdom already had a lot of talks regarding
the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The matter had also reached the United
Nations but none of those were of any use. It was 1981 and Argentina was
already suffering due to its crippled economy.
The people were very unhappy with the current government and Leopoldo Galtieri; the Argentine president was under a lot of pressure. So he decided to go to war and capture the Falkland Islands to distract the people of their miseries and thus saving his image. He also assumed that London would not react much in terms of military and he would easily capture the lands.
The people were very unhappy with the current government and Leopoldo Galtieri; the Argentine president was under a lot of pressure. So he decided to go to war and capture the Falkland Islands to distract the people of their miseries and thus saving his image. He also assumed that London would not react much in terms of military and he would easily capture the lands.
He successfully captured the South Georgia Island and then
the Falkland Island. The people of
Argentina celebrated their victory. But Galtieri was completely wrong about the
reaction of London over his move. In reply Margaret Thatcher declared a full
scale military invasion over the Falkland Island. The United States tried to
mediate and asked Thatcher if she could let the issue go. But Thatcher was
fully determined and was in no mood to compromise.
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| Margaret Thatcher |
In reply the British forces first recaptured the South
Georgia Islands. Then they carried out
air bombing raids over the Falkland Island. These raids were known as Black
Buck Raids. The British Air Force played a vital role in this war. Along with
the Air Force, the British Navy also played a significant role.
The British sank the Argentine Ship ARA General Belgrano. The British Navy also lost one of its Ships HMS Sheffield. The war went on and British army was finally able to capture Port Stanley. Negotiations were made and Argentina finally agreed to withdraw its troops marking the end of the war on 14th June 1982.
The British sank the Argentine Ship ARA General Belgrano. The British Navy also lost one of its Ships HMS Sheffield. The war went on and British army was finally able to capture Port Stanley. Negotiations were made and Argentina finally agreed to withdraw its troops marking the end of the war on 14th June 1982.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Since 1982 the Falkland Islands
has remained as British Overseas Territory. It possesses the status of a self
governed territory. But the sovereignty is still not clear. Argentina till date
claims the Islands to be its part. As far as the International recognition of
these island is concerned, the US and the EU remains neutral over its sovereignty.
But the EU recognize the island as an overseas territory of UK, the Commonwealth Nations and various other nations provides the same kind of recognition to the Falkland Islands. On the
other hand China supports the Argentine claim over the island and in return
Argentina recognizes Taiwan to be an integral part of China.
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