MPs hit out at Argentine leader over attempt to slap controls on Falklands shipping

THE Argentine president has been criticised by British MPs for issuing an "unacceptable" decree in an attempt to control shipping to and from the Falkland Islands.

• Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said that all ships entering the country's waters must have a government permit

The dispute between the two nations, which centres on oil exploration in the South Atlantic, escalated yesterday, with calls for Argentina's ambassador to be given a stern warning against making any claim to sovereign rights in the region.

In a row which raises the spectre of the Falklands War, president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said on Tuesday that all ships must receive a government permit before entering Argentine waters, which Buenos Aires regards as covering the entire South Atlantic continental shelf.

The Foreign Office yesterday shrugged off the demand, insisting that the seas around the Falklands were controlled by the islands' authorities and would not be affected by the decree.

Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant said: "We have no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, and we're clear that the Falkland Islands government is entitled to develop a hydrocarbons industry within its waters.

"We're monitoring the situation closely, but we're not going to react to every development in Argentina. We remain focused on supporting the Falkland Islands' government in developing legitimate business in its territory.

"We mustn't lose sight of the fact that Argentina and the UK have a close and productive relationship on a range of issues: in the G20, on climate change, sustainable development and counter-proliferation."

But Andrew Rosindell, the secretary of the parliamentary all-party group on the Falklands, said Argentina should be told not to meddle in Falklands affairs. I hope the Foreign Secretary will call the Argentine ambassador in and tell them this is unacceptable behaviour," the Conservative MP said. "It is 28 years since the Falklands War and it has been made clear to Argentina that they have no say over the Falkland Islands or their territorial waters and they should not try to interfere with them."

He said Ms Fernandez's announcement was "a typical political ploy" linked to her wrangle with Britain over oil and gas drilling rights in the South Atlantic.

Ship captains should take no notice of the demand to seek permits from Buenos Aires when they pass from international waters into the sea around the Falklands, he added.

Sir Nicholas Winterton, chairman of the all-party Falklands group, said he would seek a meeting with senior officials at the Foreign Office next week.

He dismissed Ms Fernandez's decree as "pathetic and useless", as Argentina had no jurisdiction over the seas around the Falklands, and stressed that both the government and the Tory opposition remained committed to British sovereignty over the islands.

Sir Nicholas said: "The Argentinians are again indulging in hostile behaviour – albeit at this stage only in words – against a friendly neighbour, the Falklands. I believe they are doing so for internal purposes and that it will not affect the Falkland Islands at all."

The dispute has flared up recently because of interest in possible oil reserves, with several British firms poised to begin exploration. One rig, the Ocean Guardian, is en route to the Falklands from Scotland, with work scheduled to begin next week.

• The latest row has raised the spectre of the Falklands War in 1982

Analysis: Strong, well-equipped navy is the best way to protect British assets

Prof Andrew Lambert

THE latest diplomatic stand-off over Argentine words and actions in support of the country's long-running claim to the Falkland Islands has elicited a remarkably cool response from the Foreign Office. While the claim is old – the dispute goes back almost 200 years – the specific issues are very modern.

Potential oil wealth has revived Argentine claims. While Argentina is using economic coercion rather than force, the fact that Buenos Aires disputes Falkland Islands sovereignty could, potentially, lead to a confrontation.

However, the best option at present would be to rely on diplomacy, involve the international community and avoid any overtly hostile gestures which might be counter-productive.

Argentina is unlikely to find any support in Washington or at the United Nations and does not have the resources – or, one suspects, the political will – to escalate the dispute to a military level. A prolonged stand-off with oil companies in the middle is the most likely scenario.

In 1982, Argentina invaded and occupied the Falklands and South Georgia to uphold the claim to sovereignty. The Royal Navy, Royal Marines and army launched an operation to recover the islands.

In the past 28 years, Argentina has become a democracy, but also suffered serious economic problems. Consequently, the armed forces have not been significantly improved – for example, the air force still operates the same planes that attacked the British in 1982.

While there have been several defence cuts since 1982, Britain has the equipment and expertise to reinforce the islands' security by sea. The main limitation on a graduated British military response comes from the severe operational overstretch of both the navy and army.

As a maritime trading nation with citizens, allies and commerce stretching right round the world, a modern, globally deployable navy is the best way of signalling British determination and, if all else fails, of securing British interests.

• Professor Andrew Lambert is a naval historian and author from the Department of War Studies, King's College London.