USA agrees to sell Black Hawk helicopters to Argentina in £103 million deal after Trump hinted he wouldn't help Britain if the Falklands were invaded

The United States will sell Black Hawk helicopters to Argentina in a multi-million pound deal that comes only weeks after Donald Trump's hints he would not aid Britain if the Falkland Islands were invaded. 

The U.S State Department confirmed on Thursday the possible foreign military sale of UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters and their related equipment to the South American country at an estimated cost of £103million ($140million). 

The sale, which will give Buenos Aires four helicopters, emerges just weeks after the US President implied he would not offer help to the UK if Argentina invaded the Falklands again. 

The US has traditionally taken a neutral position regarding the Falklands, but the President recently suggested a review on this stance in what some claimed was a pressure tactic to prompt more UK military cooperation. 

Mr Trump jibed that Britain is not 'doing well' and had failed to 'help' with the military campaign against Iran. 

Speaking on GB News earlier this month, Mr Trump said he clearly remembered the 1982 Falklands War when questioned on if he would 'come to the aid' of the UK in the event of another invasion. 

He said: 'I was there when they had the first war, that was a long time ago... you comported yourself very well, took it back very shortly. But it is a long way away.

'So, your country's not doing well. Don't forget you get a big percentage of your oil from the Strait of Hormuz and you weren't there to help me.

'Your country was not there to help me.'

The United States will sell Black Hawk helicopters to Argentina (Pictured: A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter)

The deal comes as President Donald Trump implied he would not aid Britain if the Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentina

Announcing the Black Hawk deal with Argentina, a US official said the sale will support America's 'foreign policy goals' and 'national security objectives'. 

This will be done, they said, by: 'Improving the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America.

'The proposed sale will improve Argentina's capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.'

Black Hawk helicopters - which have a range of about 320 to 370 miles - have been in use for almost half a century and can carry around 11 soldiers. 

They can be equipped with auxiliary tanks that broaden their range to approximately 950 miles, but are scarcely armed making them vulnerable to RAF Typhoon fighter jets which defend the Falklands.

Yet the acquisition of the helicopters comes as a boost for Argentine President Javier Milei, who only recently announced sanctions on oil companies drilling in the Sea Lion oilfield, located close to the Falkland Islands. 

Last week, Mr Milei said in a broadcast: 'In the world, the winds are blowing favourably for our claim [to the Falklands] right now.'

The La Libertad Avanza founder also vowed to construct a new military base at the South American archipelago Tierra del Fuego as part of Argentina's increasing military alliance with the United States. 

Argentine President Javier Milei (pictured) recently announced sanctions on oil companies drilling in the Sea Lion oilfield, which is located close to the Falkland Islands

Black Hawk helicopters - which have a range of about 320 to 370 miles - have been in use for almost half a century and can carry around 11 soldiers (Pictured: A U.S. Armed Forces Black Hawk helicopter seen in Panama)

A US official said the sale of the helicopters will support America's 'foreign policy goals' and 'national security objectives' (Pictured: U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters fly over Baghdad)

Responding to Mr Milei, Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted he will be 'relentless' in defending the Falkland Islands. 

Mr Burnham, speaking at this week's Prime Minister's Questions, said he would 'always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British' amid the escalating tensions with Buenos Aires.

He said: 'We will not surrender our base at Diego Garcia. We are in discussions with the US about that, we will always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British.

'That will never change under this Government, and we will be relentless in defending that.'

It is not yet clear if the Foreign Office was aware of the deal to sell Argentina the aircraft - which also includes high-tech navigation and radar systems.

Because of competing sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands, the UK has prohibited the exportation of any weapons or components to Argentina.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the body could not comment due to the deal being US-based.