Donald Trump has been accused of "bullying" amid a growing row over a leaked Pentagon plan to reconsider US support for Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands.
An internal memo reportedly listed the move as among options being considered by the US President to punish the US’s NATO allies for failing to support the Iran war.
A note, described to news agency Reuters by an anonymous official, laid out policy options to punish NATO members who refused to give the US access, basing and overflight (ABO) rights for its Iran war.
As well as reassessing the US view of Britain’s “imperial possessions”, it reportedly also suggested removing Spain from the military alliance altogether.
Downing Street on Friday insisted the UK's position on the Falklands was "longstanding" and "unchanged".
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear repeatedly that he will not be pressured.
“He will always take a strong position on the UK’s national interests, and the Falklands is no different.”
He added: “We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falklands.
“It’s longstanding, it’s unchanged.
Sovereignty rests with the UK and self-determination is paramount.”
Asked if the government had made that position clear to Trump, the spokesman said: "I wouldn't get ahead of this, but our position is consistent.
"The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining an overseas territory.
We have always stood behind the right to self-determination."
That line was backed up by the Falklands Islands government, which pointed out that 99.8% of voters had cast their ballot in favour of remaining a British Overseas Territory.
Amid the row, Argentina is calling for talks with the UK.
The country has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and invaded them in 1982 before being defeated in a short but bloody war.
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Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno posted on X: “The Argentine Republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom that will allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which they are immersed.”
British veterans of the Falklands War branded Trump a "bully" over the plans, The Telegraph reported.
Peter Robinson, who served in 40 Commando during the war and was famously pictured carrying the Union Flag from his backpack, said: "Trump...
is a bully that is using the weight of America behind him to reach his own personal goals and set his stamp in history."
Simon Weston, who suffered severe burns when his troop transport RFA Sir Galahad was attacked and was made a CBE in 2016, added: "The islanders do not deserve to be anybody's political football."
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described the Pentagon plans as "absolute nonsense".
“The Falkland Islands are British,” she said.
“They have been for a very long time."
She added that the US suggestion is not an idea "we need to take seriously just yet".
"I don't know what Donald Trump is talking about,” Ms Badenoch told reporters.
“This sounds like this sort of thing he was saying when it came to Greenland.
“I don't think we need to take it that seriously just yet.
We need to make sure that we are very determined in protecting British sovereign territory, and that includes the Falkland Islands as well as Chagos.”
Directing her criticism at the Prime Minister, she added: "This is one of the things that worries me about the changing world.
“I'm not like Keir Starmer giving away the Chagos Islands and surrendering British territory.
We need to make sure that we back the Falklands.
They are British territory.”
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Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard
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