Key facts
- Nigel Farage would use Britain's armed forces to "crush" Argentina in defense of the Falkland Islands.
- Reform UK's finance spokesperson Robert Jenrick made the statement.
- Jenrick also said economic sanctions would be used against Buenos Aires.
- The comments were made in response to Argentinian President Javier Milei's escalating rhetoric.
- The UK retained control of the Falklands after a 1982 war with Argentina.
Nigel Farage would employ Britain's armed forces and economic sanctions to "crush" Argentina in the event of a dispute over the Falkland Islands, according to a senior figure in his Reform UK party. Robert Jenrick, Farage's finance spokesperson, stated that if Farage were prime minister, he would "use every lever of the British state" against Buenos Aires to defend the South Atlantic archipelago.
The comments come amid renewed tensions over the islands' sovereignty. Argentina invaded the territory in 1982, leading to a 74-day war that Britain won. A 2013 referendum saw an overwhelming majority of islanders vote to remain a British overseas territory.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he was reviewing Washington's support for British sovereignty. This was followed by Argentinian President Javier Milei, an ally of Trump, pledging sanctions against companies drilling for oil near the islands without Buenos Aires' approval.
Jenrick criticized Milei's actions, attributing them to a perceived weakness in the current UK government. He asserted that Farage's leadership would deter such challenges, emphasizing a strong stance on defending the Falklands. This position from Reform UK contrasts with Farage's previous praise for Milei's right-wing ideology.