The BBC reports on British military preparations in the Falklands, after Argentina imposed tighter controls on the seas around the islands:
The UK has made “all the preparations that are necessary” to protect the Falkland Islands, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.
Argentina has brought in controls on ships passing through its waters to the islands over UK plans to drill for oil.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told the BBC the Royal Navy’s presence in the region should be increased.
The Ministry of Defence has denied reports a naval taskforce is on its way to the Falklands.
While it’s unlikely that we’ll see a re-run of the 1982 Falkland war, recall that it was a reduction in British force in the region that gave Argentina’s military junta the opportunity to invade. Britain appears to have learned from that mistake.
Not quite learned. If Argentina invaded today, Britain would probably be unable to retake the islands. That said it’s unlikely the modern Argentine electorate would tolerate such an action.
Comment by Publius — February 18, 2010 @ 22:52
That’s almost certainly true, in both specifics. My point was that the British government at least appears to have recognized that the 1981-82 reduction in force sent exactly the wrong message to the Generals, signalling that Britain didn’t care and wouldn’t fight for the Falklands.
I doubt the Argentine Navy wants to risk a seaborne invasion, and cheap-and-cheerful manpac antiaircraft missiles are readily available. The Argentines could do it, but it would risk being very bloody indeed, even without British reinforcements.
Comment by Nicholas — February 19, 2010 @ 09:50