Falkland Islands: Royal Navy packs considerable punch, warns William Hague

“It can shoot down Argentine fighters as soon as they take off from their
bases,” said another Navy source. “This will give Buenos Aires
serious pause for thought.”

The deployment, expected in late March, comes as Argentina has stepped up its
sabre rattling over possession of the islands with a ban on all Falkland
registered ships in South American ports.

Tension between Britain and Argentina over the disputed South Atlantic islands
has been rising again as the 30th anniversary of the war approaches and
British companies drill for oil in waters surrounding the islands.

Jeremy Browne, the British Foreign Office minister responsible for relations
with Latin America, is due to visit the islands in June to take part in the
commemoration of Britain’s recapture of the islands from occupying Argentine
troops.

Browne said he hoped his week-long visit would not annoy Argentina, which has
already accused Britain of acting provocatively by announcing that Prince
William, second in line to the British throne, will be deployed to the
islands this year as an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot.

“I hope they will see it for what it is, which is a recognition of the
valour and sacrifice of British soldiers and the Falkland islanders
themselves in the liberation of the islands 30 years ago and also a wider
commemoration of the sacrifice made more generally, including by
Argentinians,” he said.

Browne is the first minister from Britain’s 20-month-old coalition government
to announce plans to visit the islands and will be the first Foreign Office
minister to go there since 2008.

London has controlled the islands, about 300 miles (480 km) off the southern
Argentine coast, since 1833. In 1982, Britain sent a naval force and
thousands of troops to reclaim the islands after Argentine forces occupied
them. About 650 Argentine and 255 British troops died in the 10-week
conflict.

David Cameron has responded that the sovereignty of the islands is not for
negotiation.

After Argentine President Cristina Fernandez described Britain last year as a “crass
colonial power in decline” for refusing to hold talks over the islands,
Cameron retorted this month by accusing Argentina of “colonialism”.

Browne said there was scope for a “more productive” relationship
between Britain and Argentina in areas such as trade, climate change and
economic cooperation, including in the G20 group of leading economies to
which both countries belong.

“But we are not about to forfeit our belief in the right of
self-determination of the Falkland islands’ people … in order to engender
that relationship,” he said.

Sending the £1 billion Dauntless on her first mission to the area will
reinforce Britain’s position, although it will cause difficulties for the
Foreign Office which is trying to downplay the rhetoric.

Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord and Falklands veteran, said the
Type 45 has an “amazing anti-air warfare capability.”

He also sent a warning to the Buenos Aires government. “Should there be any
foolish nonsense from Argentina, Dauntless can sit just off the airfield and
take down any aircraft coming in. It’s a game-changing capability.”

A Navy Spokesman said: “The Royal Navy has had a continuous presence in the
South Atlantic for many years. The deployment of HMS Dauntless to the South
Atlantic has been long planned, is entirely routine and replaces another
ship on patrol.”

Dauntless will replace the ageing Type 23 frigate Montrose.

Earlier this month the Navy sent Daring, the first Type 45, to the Arabian
Gulf as tensions with Iran increase.

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