Since the war of 1982, the 3,000 people who live in the remote
Falkland Islands have replaced traditional
colonial rule with their own autonomous government, and become wealthy from the
sale of fishing licences. Now oil has been discovered, and it promises almost
unimaginable wealth. Money has already transformed this tiny society – not
always for the better. But home-grown challenges are as nothing compared to the
threat from their neighbour, Argentina.
The oil discoveries have fuelled Argentina's ambitions to take the Islands that they believe were stolen from them almost 180
years ago. Buenos Aires is making the "Malvinas"
a regional issue involving other South American countries, and has established
an economic blockade of the Islands, virtually
cutting them off from the continent. It is a policy they say they will continue
until London
agrees to discuss a transition to Argentine rule. In response, the Prime
Minister has stated that Britain will support the Islanders'
right to remain British.
British commitment is obvious from the most modern RAF fighters that
fly over the Falklands and the destroyers and
frigates that patrol the waters. But as Argentina rearms (a process examined in this
book) some question whether Britain can always defend its distant
territory.
Thirty years on from the war, Islanders are again under threat, and
another South Atlantic crisis may be
coming.
