Fears Argentinian special forces could raid 'vulnerable' Falkland Islands | World Defense

Fears Argentinian special forces could raid 'vulnerable' Falkland Islands

BLACKEAGLE

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
3,623
Reactions
1,989 10 0
Country
Jordan
Location
Jordan
ARGENTINIAN special forces could be preparing to launch a daring raid on the Falkland Islands, military sources warned today.

By Nick Gutteridge
PUBLISHED: 17:07, Sun, Mar 29, 2015

567116_1.jpg

Argentine President Christina De Kirchner has ramped up rhetoric over the Falklands in recent years

Defence chiefs have been told that an elite unit from the South American country could be sent to occupy one of the 700 tiny isles surrounding the small British territory.

The lack of any troop-carrying helicopters on the islands has raised fears that the small defence force stationed there could find itself unable to respond to Argentinian incursions.

The warning came days after it emerged that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to lend 12 long-range bombers to the South American country.

The Russians have shipped the Sukhoi SU-24 jets across the Atlantic in exchange for beef and wheat in an effort to dodge EU sanctions over Ukraine.



Argentina has ratcheted up its rhetoric over the Falklands in recent years, in what is seen by many as an attempt by embattled president Cristina De Kirchner to deflect attention away from the country's stuttering economy.

A Whitehall source told the Sunday Mirror that Mrs De Kirchner is likely to increase her attacks on Britain in the coming month as the South American nation gears up for elections.

They said: “Ministers have been advised of the concern and will send helicopters next year.

“Really I would suggest we need them now.

“The next few months will be tense as the Argentines prepare for elections and no doubt will be looking for propaganda opportunities.”

270338.jpg

The 1982 Falklands War cost the lives of 255 British soldiers

270339.jpg

Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falklands, which is refers to as Las Malvinas

In response the Government has unveiled a ?280m bid to beef up the islands' defences, to be rolled out over the next decade.

Tory Defence Secretary Michael Fallon wants to send two troop-carrying Chinooks to the Falklands early next year to add to a defence force of 150 soldiers, four RAF Typhoon jets and a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel.

The source said: “Senior commanders have been warning for months that the threat is not from Argentina buying Russian bombers but from a special forces raid to claim one of the islands.

“Right now we are struggling to protect all these islands.

“Without support helicopters it is a very difficult challenge and the Argentines know that.”

Any incursion by Argentina would mark the biggest strain in relations between the two nations since the 1982 Falklands War.

The 74 day conflict cost the lives of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen before the invading troops were eventually repelled.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Fears Argentinian special forces could raid 'vulnerable' Falkland Islands | UK | News | Daily Express
 

Redheart

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
1,239
Reactions
319 0 0
Country
USA
Location
USA
Will the tussle over the Falklands end in bloody conflict? Since most of the resident of the Falklands of British descent I think the Argentinian government just should back off and let them be. In face it would even be better if the UK also left them alone. Nonetheless at the present if the Argies are keen on escalating tensions then the UK government needs to send enough soldiers [150 is a joke] to act as a deterrent to Argentine aggression.
 

pwarbi

MEMBER
Joined
Mar 18, 2015
Messages
341
Reactions
70 1 0
Country
United Kingdom
Location
United Kingdom
Why do the Argentinians want the Falkland islands so much in the first place?

During the Falklands war in 1982, I was to young to understand or even know much about it. All I did know is that I had members of my family in the services at the time that had to go and fight.

Didn't Falkland islanders vote to stay under British rule in a democratic vote that was held? So why is argentina allowed to invade and take control of the island by force if that's what they are planning on doing?
 

jeremy2

MEMBER
Joined
Dec 26, 2014
Messages
84
Reactions
13 0 0
Country
Kenya
Location
Kenya
The Argentina forces have no right to invade those Islands as by doing so, they will be stoking the flames of war which i personally think they won't be able to handle. All diplomatic channels ought to be exhausted before both sides think of other alternatives.
 

westmixxin

MEMBER
Joined
Feb 12, 2015
Messages
65
Reactions
5 0 0
Country
USA
Location
USA
It seems like the flames of war spread across the world this year is pretty much the year of war. I've heard more about war this year then I have in a long period of time and it's going on everywhere with the small countries.
 

missbishi

MEMBER
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
404
Reactions
118 0 0
Country
United Kingdom
Location
United Kingdom
Didn't Falkland islanders vote to stay under British rule in a democratic vote that was held?

Yes, they did, There was a referendum in 2013, where 99.8% of the Falklanders voted to remain British.

The Channel 4 website has a conise article on the origins and history of the conflict and although it is obviously UK-biased, it gives a simple explanation.

FactCheck Q&A: Why are the Falklands British?
 

Rowe992

MEMBER
Joined
Feb 6, 2015
Messages
279
Reactions
40 0 0
Country
Belize
Location
Belize
And why does the UK wants to claim an Island that is not even within the same continent as the UK? These Islands don't belong to Britain and Argentina has more talk of a claim than the UK. I don't think Argentina will try to attack again but if they do then I don't disagree with them.
 
Top