BRITAIN is reportedly in talks with Argentina about lifting a long-standing weapons ban despite the country still claiming the Falkland Islands.
Strict UK export rules currently block any weapon containing British components from being sold to Argentina if it would “enhance” its military – effectively shutting down most Western arms sales.
But Argentinian President Javier Milei has reportedly said that negotiations were under way to overhaul restrictions that have shackled his armed forces since the Falklands War, according to The Telegraph.
The move, if successful, could let the South American nation snap up state-of-the-art military kit, it was claimed.
Milei told the outlet: “There are no world powers without military power. A country doesn’t count on the world stage if it can’t defend its borders.”
Argentina, backed by the US, is now lobbying to get the rules regarding weapons relaxed.
Asked directly whether talks had begun on easing the British veto, Milei said: “Absolutely.”
The Telegraph also revealed that Mr Milei is set to become the first Argentinian president to visit Britain since 1998.
He said he planned to travel to the UK in April or May next year and hoped to meet Sir Keir Starmer — as well as opposition figures including Nigel Farage.
The Argentinian leader also invited Sir Keir to Buenos Aires for an official visit.
But Milei continues to claim that the Falkland Islands should return to Argentina – even if only through diplomatic means.
That’s despite Britain embarrassing them in the 1982 war.
Milei’s position on the islands returning diplomatically is a clear shift from the harder line taken by some of his predecessors.
He said: “Since I believe the solution must be peaceful and diplomatic, the best way to show Argentina’s willingness is to demonstrate we can also have a mature commercial relationship.”
Milei confirmed that talks on lifting specific UK restrictions on military components had been handed to his defence minister “according to what he thinks needs to be removed”.
He added: “Whatever can be done to improve trade, I will do — taking geopolitical risks into account.”
An Argentinian official involved in the talks admitted the country’s military is in “really bad shape” because of the long-running weapons ban.
Relations between Buenos Aires and London have been improving since Mr Milei, a libertarian economist, took power in 2023.
However, the Argentine leader has previously pushed hard for the UK to hand over the Falkland Islands.
He has suggested a Hong Kong-style agreement which would see the UK hand sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires.
The firebrand has insisted on more than one occasion that the overseas British territory belongs to Argentina.
Britain and Argentina went to war for ten weeks in 1982 when the South American country invaded and occupied the islands.
Argentina surrendered in June after just 72 days – leaving the islands in British hands.
The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.
UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100% of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.
The Falklands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina, are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from the South American nation.
