# What's the Deal with the Falkland Islands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629 "2012-01-25T19:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/181 "2012-02-15T15:53:31Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > What agreement was that? do you have a cite? (not doubting you, just wanting to learn more) [The one negotiated in 1995 to share oil/gas exploration rights.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1547024/Argentina-snubs-UK-over-oil-deal-as-anniversary-nears.html) ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/182 "2012-02-15T15:55:25Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > What agreement was that? do you have a cite? (not doubting you, just wanting to learn more) [link](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/mar/28/argentina.oil) > [@](#): > > Relations between Britain and Argentina took a turn for the worse today after Buenos Aires ended an agreement for oil exploration near the Falkland Islands. > > Argentina’s decision came just days before the 25th anniversary of the war for the South Atlantic islands. > > The move ends a 1995 accord designed to foster cooperation on oil prospecting around the islands. And in my previous post - no idea how the :smack: got there. Was not intended. No disrespect to the previous poster intended. Argentina really needs to get it into its head that sovereignty is not up for negotiation. If they want to come to some mutually beneficial agreements concerning resources then that’s fine. But if they want sovereignty then they are just going to have to come and try take it. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/183 "2012-02-15T15:58:16Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > [link](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/mar/28/argentina.oil) Thanks. However that looks like an agreement to prospect international waters not to share oil and fish in the Islands and the Islands territorial waters themselves. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/184 "2012-02-15T16:06:46Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Thanks. > > However that looks like an agreement to prospect international waters not to share oil and fish in the Islands and the Islands territorial waters themselves. No - to share exploitation of resources. It ties in with claims to the continental shelf around the Falklands. The UK won’t share our territorial waters. Argentina likes to imagine these things are all stepping stones to them getting sovereignty when in fact they are the diplomatic equivalent of throwing a yapping dog a bone and hoping it’ll STFU. But if they want to flounce off in a huff that’s fine by us. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/185 "2012-02-15T18:19:24Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > To be fair to him, what the fuck does it have to do with us? If it all goes to shit, we have to pay for it. We also have family who may well have to fight there. And our government’s committment to protecting its citizens is very much something to do with us. So, yeah. Plenty to do with us. Fuck all to do with Sean Penn. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/186 "2012-02-15T19:15:29Z")
We’re here discussing it, but many of us (I’d guess) are neither British nor Argentinian (including OP maybe?), certainly none of us are part of any decision that will be made on this issue. I don’t agree with Sean Penn, I just think he’s entitled to tell us his opinion if he really wants to, even if he’s not involved, just as I think we non-Americans can sit here and discuss American politics and whether or not they should or shouldn’t have done x, y, and z. Anyway, it wasn’t an important point, not one worth debating really anyway. Actually I am interested in foreign opinion on the matter. Apart from the fact that in the end it will probably be decided by foreign people (if everyone tells Argentina to shut up they will eventually), I’m interested to hear other perspectives because, to me, it’s so obvious that the Falklands should remain as they are that I don’t see how anyone can argue. I’d like to know if people who are neither British nor Argentinian but do know the basic facts (specifically that the Falklanders want to remain British and the islands have never been properly settled or used by Argentina) do believe anything should be done differently, and if so why. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/187 "2012-02-15T22:51:29Z")
Most people participating in this thread are Argentinian or British, from what I can see. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/188 "2012-02-15T23:42:50Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > We’re here discussing it, but many of us (I’d guess) are neither British nor Argentinian (including OP maybe?), certainly none of us are part of any decision that will be made on this issue. Yeah, but we’re not celebrities trying to influence things that have nothing to do with us. We choose to discuss it amongst ourselves. > [@](#): > > I don’t agree with Sean Penn, I just think he’s entitled to tell us his opinion if he really wants to, even if he’s not involved, just as I think we non-Americans can sit here and discuss American politics and whether or not they should or shouldn’t have done x, y, and z. He has the right to say what he wants. In response, we have the right to say he’s an ignorant fucktard poking his nose in where it doesn’t belong. It goes both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/189 "2012-02-15T23:45:47Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > Most people participating in this thread are Argentinian or British, from what I can see. Maybe most, but not everyone. I’m English. But discussing it with your comrades on a messageboard is a far cry from a public platform informing the world of your worthless opinion just because you were married to Madonna once. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/190 "2012-02-15T23:59:21Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > But discussing it with your comrades on a messageboard is a far cry from a public platform informing the world of your worthless opinion just because you were married to Madonna once. Sean knows, man, he really knows, having been there. [Don’t cry for me Argentina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMNmP1o0tzg) ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/191 "2012-02-16T00:08:41Z")
Quickly looked over the thread and I don’t think it was mentioned that it seems like the Commonwealth of Nations [support the British claim](http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/140416/140425/falkland_islands/). That’s 54 nations. So from what I can gather so far: Falklands: - The EU (= 27 states) - The US - The commonwealth (=57) (- The people of the Falklands - The UK) - technically already in EU & Commonwealth Malvinas: - China - Maybe still Israel (they helped out in the last war, right?) ??? - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (= 33 states) (- Argentina) - already in CLACS Can anyone add to the list? Clarify/rectify positions on the list? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/192 "2012-02-16T00:41:53Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Sean knows, man, he really knows, having been there. > > [Don’t cry for me Argentina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMNmP1o0tzg) That’s not there. That’s Argentina! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/193 "2012-02-16T01:41:20Z")
Israeli help during the 1982 war appears to have been due to (then-PM) Menachim Begin’s personal dislike of the British. I suspect most Israeli pols would be neutral or support the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/194 "2012-02-16T01:46:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Israeli help during the 1982 war appears to have been due to (then-PM) Menachim Begin’s personal dislike of the British. I suspect most Israeli pols would be neutral or support the UK. Since Argentina recognized the Palestinian state last year I don’t think Israeli support would be forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/195 "2012-02-16T01:53:43Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Since Argentina recognized the Palestinian state last year I don’t think Israeli support would be forthcoming. But there is no known official position? It’s actually a little strange they went with Argentina in the war, isn’t it? As the US ended up siding with Britain… In tonight’s _10 o’clock live_ George Galloway claimed that “all the world agrees with Argentina”.\* He seemed particularly incoherent, TBH. \*not a literal quote, but pretty close ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/196 "2012-02-16T01:58:22Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Can anyone add to the list? Clarify/rectify positions on the list? Several Commonwealth member states are also members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/197 "2012-02-16T02:12:03Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Several Commonwealth member states are also members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Ah. Hum. Maybe someone should tell them? I think CLACS actually signed stuff about supporting Argentina’s claim, whereas for the Commonwealth it’s just the default position without having really declared anything (but I’m not very sure). So one might assume that Guyana would end up going with Argentina. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/198 "2012-02-16T02:52:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Israeli help during the 1982 war appears to have been due to (then-PM) Menachim Begin’s personal dislike of the British. I suspect most Israeli pols would be neutral or support the UK. All I can Google on that is : > [@Telegraph](#): > > Begin saw the deals as a form of revenge for the hanging of a personal friend, Dov Gruner, by the British Mandatory Authorities in Palestine in 1947. [Link](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/8463934/Israel-supplied-arms-to-Argentina-during-Falklands-War.html) Could they have used that many drop tanks? Would they have had time to install the RADARs? What the hell is a gas mask going to do for you when a Harrier rises over the hill and swivels towards you? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/199 "2012-02-16T04:04:11Z")
Argentina’s willingness to parade Sean Penn can be taken as an admission that they understand there is no substance to their position - that it’s simply low-grade political PR. If you actually felt you had a leg to stand on, why on earth would you countenance the remarks of some blithering idiot damnfool celebrity who quite obviously has no knowledge of or standing in the matter? Will they next try to line up a statement from Daffy Duck? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629/200 "2012-02-16T04:09:56Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > Appartently Argentina, much of Latin America, and the Caribean [“gives a rats ass”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8529605.stm) > > Now, if I were being cynical I’d say that actually it’s just a group of people who don’t really care that much, but are showing moral support for a major local trading party. But such support does count, especially when Argentina are looking to get a UN resolution. > > To the above, you can also add Spain (who want Gibraltar back) and a good chunk of countries that just don’t like the UK. > > Meanwhile, the list of countries that support the UK, or even just the idea that self determination should rule the day, are vanishingly small. For instance, the US seems more likely to support Argentina (thanks for the support chaps, knew we could rely on you). Most of Europe are pissed off at us just now after recent arguments over the Euro. > > So in short, I’m afraid I have to reverse your question. Who gives a rat’s arse over the people who live there? Not many, it seems. As an American, I’d be pretty damn pissed if we didn’t support the Uk. That is the very least they are owed after sticking with us in that ridiculous Iraq fiasco. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-falkland-islands/610629.md?page=11)