Not really. Beyond geographical.
There was never a permanent Argentinian presence there and no GHod promised them it in a mate fuelled prophecy/fever dream in the Atacama desert 3000 years ago.
They wanted it for resources (fossil fuels, fisheries) rather than any sense of national identity, which is fair enough but not a legit reason.
Our claim is significantly weaker than theirs though in history. Discovery then leaving to then come back isn't strong enough for me, especially when the geography is beyond ridiculous.
I would feel far more comfortable with us now having the claim to the Falklands, Argentina or no Argentina claim. In the same (for different reasons and I know the history is different) I am for us being out of India, HK and feel more comfortable giving the Chagos back.
I think you have to follow national self-determination. And, like Gibraltar, the population unanimously want to retain the status quo. Otherwise, what is the alternative - ethnic cleansing?
I'm generally pro decolonisation - was pro the return of Hong Kong and support a border poll soon in Northern Ireland. But Falklands and Gibraltar are different, as the populations there go back hundreds of years and are all of the same opinion.
Remember too Argentines are implanted Spanish and Italians, if you want to frame it like that.
I reference that in my initial post, I think thats what now makes the subject more complex.What then happens to the people who live on the Falklands that want to remain part of Britain? Which was 98% in a 2013 referendum.
All those lands had an indigenous population on British arrival and still do. HK was a legal deal that expired, never owned outright. Falklands didn’t at any point.Our claim is significantly weaker than theirs though in history. Discovery then leaving to then come back isn't strong enough for me, especially when the geography is beyond ridiculous.
I would feel far more comfortable with us not having the claim to the Falklands, Argentina or no Argentina claim. In the same (for different reasons and I know the history is different) I am for us being out of India, HK and feel more comfortable giving the Chagos back.
All those lands had an indigenous population on British arrival and still do. HK was a legal deal that expired, never owned outright. Falklands didn’t at any point.
Any claim to land 8000 miles away seems extremely daft to me and is now only relevant because of the people living there, which I acknowledge makes anything sensible unlikely.
Although factually true as of today, I get an equal sense of embarrassment when I see follicly challenged, knuckle draggers online saying "The Falklands is ours".......
In an ideal world with no complexities we wouldnt hold rule over an Island 8000 miles away.What would be sensible?
In an ideal world with no complexities we wouldnt hold rule over an Island 8000 miles away.
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