Trump suggests he wouldn’t back UK if Argentina invaded Falkland Islands

Donald Trump has suggested he would not back Britain if Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands as the row over its sovereignty deepens.

Asked if he would come to the aid of the UK in the event of another invasion, Mr Trump appeared to hit out at the UK again for what he sees as a failure to help with his war in Iran.

He told GB News: “Your country was not there to help me.”

His comments come after he suggested on Monday that he was reviewing the United States’ position on British sovereignty over the archipelago.

The next day, Argentina’s president – a close ally or Mr Trump – issued a fresh warning to the UK over the sovereignty of the islands, saying his country would defend its interests “with tooth and nail, no matter who it bothers”.

No 10 insists the UK’s position on the Falklands is “long-standing and unwavering”.

Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour – and just three votes against.

But the issue hit the headlines this summer when Argentina’s football team controversially waved a banner in support of their country’s claim to the islands while celebrating their World Cup win against England. Players held a banner after the semi-final match that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

Argentina’s president Javier Milei is preparing to make what he has billed as a national announcement on Thursday night, saying the islands were “sacred” to his people and claimed his country’s national sovereignty had been “violated”.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Argentina’s president wrote: “We announce a national broadcast for Thursday at 9:00 PM on a SACRED topic for Argentinians... a historic claim of the Argentine people that to this day continues to see its national sovereignty violated.”

He added: “What more important and strategic cause for the vital interests of the nation could there be more important than the Malvinas cause?... We will continue defending the interests of the Argentine nation with tooth and nail, no matter who it bothers. LONG LIVE FREEDOM, DAMMIT...!!!”