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Falkland Islands: Argentina Does Not Have Military Capability To Invade, Says Defence Minister

Falkand Islands

The Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 26/01/2012 21:07 Updated: 26/01/2012 21:43

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Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, according defence minister Gerald Howarth.

Recent months has seen Buenos Aires place increasing pressure on the UK to negotiate the sovereignty of the disputed islands, liberated from Argentine forces following the 1982 invasion.

Tension between the two countries has been rising ahead of the 30th anniversary of the war, with some quarters of the Argentine media calling for a second invasion of Las Malvinas. However Howarth has dismissed the talk as “sabre rattling”.

Last week, David Cameron confirmed that the Falklands issue had been discussed by the National Security Council, adding that Argentina's attitude towards the archipelago was "colonialist".

In response, the Argentine president rubbished Cameron's claims as "nonsense"

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said: "They are trying to paint us as bad guys, or violent guys and really, that is not who we are."

Cutbacks to the Royal Navy has led some MPs to question Britain’s ability to defend the South Atlantic enclave should Argentina’s rhetoric turn into action.

On Thursday, Conservative MP Edward Leigh addressed parliament on the issue of the government’s defence cuts. He said: “If there was to be a war with Iran or Argentina, we would not be fighting it in the Channel. We would be fighting it, in the case of Argentina, thousands of miles from any shore-based defence systems.”

In response, Howarth said: “You raise concerns which are widespread around the country, particularly in light of the sabre-rattling by Argentina. But I think it is very important that you understand that ministers are very seized of this matter.

“All the advice we have is that there is neither the capability nor the intention by the Argentines to repeat the folly of 1982 and that the military deterrent that we have is up to the task.”

In February, the Duke of Cambridge is due to be deployed to the Islands for six weeks as part of his RAF service.

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Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, according defence minister Gerald Howarth. Recent months has seen Buenos Aires place increasing pressure on the UK t...
Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, according defence minister Gerald Howarth. Recent months has seen Buenos Aires place increasing pressure on the UK t...

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Jacobtruth
8 Fans
22:56 on 30/01/2012
The native Falklanders have chosen to be British, it is their choice and nobody else's.
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DaveJohnWard
49 Fans
 
08:03 on 28/01/2012
Sounds a bit like the American Civil War officer "don't worry men they couldn't hit a barn door at this ..."
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Nelsons Good Eye
1 Fans
17:01 on 27/01/2012
Britain certainly has the capability to defend those Islands.
1) Astute Class submarines, nuclear powered and as modern as any in the World
2) Mount pleasant airport cabable of holding 5000 troops and very long run way so forces there would soon be bolstered and supplied
3) British Army well trained,and dont forget been involved in conflicts all over the World since last invasion, so well motivated and professional.
4) Argentine Navy and Airforce outdated equipment.
I rest my case
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Raldor
21 Fans
15:24 on 27/01/2012
Better bring our Carriers out of mothballs ...

or did we scrap them? Doubt the French will let us borrow a Carrier if we did.
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Electrastar
33 Fans
13:09 on 27/01/2012
Has Gerald Howarth thought of 'Where there's a will there's a way. Has Argentina been drastically cuting its military budgets? Does Gerald Howard really think the Argentinians would play fair?
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petethecab
20 Fans
11:52 on 27/01/2012
And anyway I'm sure that if Argentina do invade all our new middle eastern friends and European allies will rally round and support us? Won't they? And I.m sure Mrs Merkel, and Mr Sarcozy would love to help their old mate Dave out in his hour of need, especially after the way he's supported the ove recent months.
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petethecab
20 Fans
11:41 on 27/01/2012
Just as well really. Because we certainly don't have the capability to stop them.
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tripcony
13 Fans
11:00 on 27/01/2012
funny realy we cling on to this island when the claim to it is arguable...and yet years ago we kicked off british people from diego garcia and gave it to usa...and the island people exiled on mauritius
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travellerbazza
0 Fans
06:46 on 27/01/2012
The important point is that British citizens live in The Falklands and have done for decades
Not Argentinian citizens
therefore The rights of the citizens of the UK are paramount not the territory concerned
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petethecab
20 Fans
12:11 on 27/01/2012
I don't think that argument holds much water now days. You only have to look at recent Governments reactions when British citizens abroad are in danger, were not exactly the first in getting them out, ( that's usually the French ).
We live in a bankrupt country, so in the end cost will determine the fate of the Falkland Islanders.
We no longer have the military capacity or the money to protect them. Argentina can take them anytime they like. It's that simple

Another thing to take into consideration is cost. I bet it costs us quite a lot of money keeping them safe, and are they entitled to social security payments. We can't even take care of our own people at home, so I don't see Cameron and yes man Clegg losing any sleep over a few hundred people thousands of miles away who don't even vote in the UK.

No I think their days are numbered. Mind you we could always think about declaring war on Argentina, then capitulating. I mean they're economy is probably doing better than ours just now.
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xect
1 Fans
21:24 on 28/01/2012
Your post is so factually incorrect, I'm embarrassed for you.

The islands military defenses are 10 times that of what they had in 82'. Our military has far better equipment than it did in 82' where as Argentina still has the same equipment as it did in 82 but significantly less of it. Essentially the UK could easily wipe the floor with the Argentinean military.

Those few hundred people is actually 3000.

As it happens for the first time in the Falklands history we could make huge sums of money from the islands in terms of oil.

I'd also suggest your statement their days of numbers is extremely unlikely for the reason above, not to mention the UK has never not defended them in over 200 years and so we should do, these people are our countrymen!

As for the Argentinean economy, you really must be kidding me? They are one of the only countries that have gone bankrupt and look like they will do again with an inflation figure of over 40% and the crooked CFK nationalizing parts of their country to bail out their continuously failing economy.

There is a reason that Brazil consider Argentina economy 'a permanent problem'

And this is in comparison with the UK that has the highest credit rating in the world.

So please, please learn something about the subject you are posting on before posting anymore unsubstantiated and factually incorrect rubbish!
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Felice Tedechi
8 Fans
04:53 on 27/01/2012
Given that the UK has no capability of defending Home Base, it's a bit academic worrying about what the Argentinians can't do. We need aircraft carriers fully loaded with proper aircraft if we are going to go flitting about the world as Police Officers as we have been doing since Elizabeth I took out a loan to keep the pesky Spanish at bay and enter the race for global domination.

Has anyone seen my Nimrod ?
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mrdailydigger
61 Fans
 
02:14 on 27/01/2012
So they couldnt fight their way out of a paper bag eh? Well in that case maybe we should repay the favour and invade their country on some invented claim of ownership of Argentina, or as we call it, New Dagenham.
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Meta7
19 Fans
00:40 on 27/01/2012
The following is pure analysis, I have no opinion (nor care) on who the Falklands should belong to:

It is truly bizarre that Argentina is very close to the Falklands and Britain is very far away. If I were Argentina I would be concerned that I don't even have the military capabilities to take a territory right next to me against a declining power. I mean Argentina is a big nation with a large GDP, you would think they could muster a force to take some islands from a country constantly cutting its defense budget who may have it's carrier out of commission soon. Maybe I am simply overestimating the Argentines but if they really wanted to take the Falklands, their greatest obstacle should be diplomatic fallout and not a depleted British force that has to transit half the Atlantic.
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Dr Turbine
2 Fans
01:16 on 27/01/2012
I don't know where you are from as you do not say. But I guess you are not British. From your spelling of the word Defence I suppose you are North American and in particular United States American as opposed to Canadian. (Again, just a guess).
What you don't seem to grasp is the connection we have with our Commonwealth and dependents. For example Australia and New Zealand are further away still than the Falklands so the Geography is not an issue. A couple of words here to allow comparison; Hawaii, Guam, Northern Marianas Island....... you get the idea.
Just to bring you right up to date, the carriers are gone.
Final point ( Geography again) "Half the Atlantic" take another look at the old Globe.
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Meta7
19 Fans
03:30 on 27/01/2012
Firstly, Canadian. A silly little spelling mistake shouldn't condemn me as you did but anyways...I don't know the distance and its probably a lot further than half the Atlantic but my point was simply to emphasize that it is a large distance and not to make a factual geographical statement.

Finally, on to the important part of the argument. What does your connection with the islands have to do with your ability to defend them? The issue is whether Britain is able to defend them not whether she is willing (of will I have no doubt). I was simply pointing out that it makes no sense that Argentina cannot take those islands if they wanted to (that is if anything an insult to them and not to Britain although I don't mean it to be an insult to anyone). This is especially the case if the carriers are gone. As for the American islands you listed, I don't think that argument is valid because you are talking about the world's greatest super power that has the capabilities to defend any inch of its territory.

You seemed to miss the point of my original post. To sum up it was simply: The state of the Argentinean military seems to be quite inadequate if it cannot defeat a carrier less British navy that must traverse a vast distance to fight them.
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othel
ask NOT what your country WILL do for you
146 Fans
03:31 on 27/01/2012
You forgot to mention South Africa and India.

Get over it. The sun DOES set on the British Empire.
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SimonBao
306 Fans
00:55 on 28/01/2012
Sorry, but your analysis would have held no water 30 years ago.

Why would you think your analysis is applicable today?

And in 2012, if you think the US president would only covertly support Britain, the way Ronald Reagan did, that's a mistake. In 2012, the US president will very swiftly and decisively assist Britain with whatever military support was requested.
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Damilton
21 Fans
00:38 on 27/01/2012
So the Argentinians don't have the strength to invade. Good, because we don't have the strength to defend. Can we get away from tough and hard, try intelligence? No, I thought not.
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mfa11e
41 Fans
00:32 on 27/01/2012
The problem is they have more bows and arrows than us though
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Mickey Mouse 1
60 Fans
00:21 on 27/01/2012
Is that an invitation from an idiot for them to try?
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Chris Trawin
0 Fans
02:43 on 27/01/2012
I thought that. Red flag to a bull. Let's just hope it loses something in translation.
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Mickey Mouse 1
60 Fans
10:21 on 27/01/2012
The UK are likely to have put plans in place following the last time Agentina invaded the Falklands. They would also be monitoring, among other things, oil exploration in the area and are unlikely to be unaware that the Falklanders have found oil. This will raise the profile accordingly.

I think it is irresponsible to participate in a slanging match with Argentina which may spark them up into doing something that they may later regret..
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