Argentina accuses UK vessel of approaching Falkland Islands illegally, amidst FIFA controversy – JURIST

Argentina protested against a United Kingdom ship, HMS Medwayfor its alleged illegal approach to the Falkland Islands through Argentina’s territorial waters on Thursday POST on X (ex-Twitter) by its Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno. The post came after Argentina’s national team displayed a controversial slogan about the territory at the end of the FIFA semi-finals against England on Wednesday.

Argentina’s official statement, dated July 13, describes the stationing of HMS Medway in the Falkland Islands as an “unconsulted and illegal military incursion” into its territorial sea, violating 1991 Joint Declaration between two nations. The statement also accused the United Kingdom of breaching its international duty to refrain from unilaterally changing the status of the territory in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 31/49.

The UK government denied the allegations. Prime Minister’s spokesman Keir Starmer told a news conference that they informed Argentina of the logistics mission between Chile and the Falkland Islands to support the country’s Antarctic research, according to The Guardian.

Commenters also argued that HMS Medway was merely exercising her right to pass under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The right allows any vessel to navigate through a state’s territorial sea in a manner that does not threaten the sovereignty of the coastal state or compromise its rights in the territorial sea.

UN HOLDS The Falkland Islands are one of the remaining non-self-governing territories in the world. They enjoy the right to self-determination according to UN Charter and international covenants. The right It includes that the people in the territories can freely determine their political status. In 2013, the territory held a referendum in which 99 percent of the electorate VOTE that the Falkland Islands remain a British Overseas Territory.

Quirno’s social media post came after the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, where Argentina’s national soccer team APPEARANCE controversial banner”The Malvinas are Argentinian” (The Falkland Islands are Argentine).

In response, Starmer’s spokesman repeated that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands belongs to Great Britain. London has MOVED FIFA will launch an investigation into the placement of the banner, saying it was a breach of its Article 34.3. regulations.

The Legislative Assembly of the territory also EXPRESS dismay at the display of the banner, saying it showed “special insensitivity” to the people of the Falklands. In a statement, lawmaker Michael Goss urged FIFA to “fulfill their promise to keep politics out of sport” and sanction the conduct.

a FIFA spokesman said Al Jazeera on Thursday that the organization has set up an independent disciplinary committee to consider further action. The team could face a fine of $5,000 to $20,000. Argentina’s football association previously faced a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs showing the same banner in their international friendly against Slovenia, ahead of the 2014 World Cup.