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The Pentagon suggested in a leaked internal email that the Trump administration might reconsider U.S. diplomatic support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands as retaliation for the lack of support from the United Kingdom in the war against Iran.
The confidential document, initially reported by Reuters through an anonymous U.S. official, lists options to pressure NATO allies who have not provided access to bases, overflight rights, or military support in the conflict with Iran.
Among these options is reconsidering Washington's position on what the memo describes as "European imperial possessions", with the Falklands explicitly mentioned.
The Pentagon spokesperson, Kingsley Wilson, indicated that "credible options" will be provided to Trump for NATO allies to "do their part."
The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded firmly, rejecting the threat and reaffirming the undisputed sovereignty of the United Kingdom over the islands.
Downing Street reminded that its position —based on the right to self-determination of the islanders— has been communicated in a "clear and consistent" manner to all successive U.S. administrations.
Lord West, a veteran of the Falklands War of 1982, described the threat as an "insult" to the islanders, although he downplayed its real impact by noting that the recognition by the U.S. does not affect international law or the security of the islands.
The conservative opposition, for its part, accused Starmer of showing "weakness" that invites exploitation by both allies and adversaries.
The tension between Washington and London has intensified since the start of the Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, when the U.S. and Israel launched an offensive against Iran that resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the destruction of nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
Starmer initially rejected the use of British bases for offensive attacks and on March 1 granted only limited permission for defensive operations, refusing to support what he described as "a regime change from the air."
Trump responded by labeling the Prime Minister as cowardly and "not Winston Churchill," and has threatened to reassess the U.S. commitment to NATO, which he referred to as a "paper tiger."
The scenario potentially benefits Javier Milei, the president of Argentina and a close ally of Trump, given the historical Argentine claim over the islands dating back to 1833.
In the 2013 referendum, 99.8% of the islanders voted to remain under British sovereignty, with only three votes against, a result that London cites as a central argument for its position.
This Friday, Starmer was traveling to Paris for a summit with President Emmanuel Macron regarding the Iranian crisis, amid the most serious diplomatic escalation between Washington and London in decades.
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