Argentines were outraged after their government failed to include the Falkland Islands on a map of their country during an official summit, attended by states from around the world – including Britain.
“Argentine representatives couldn’t believe” what they were seeing when the map of their country didn’t include ‘Las Malvinas’, adding that the omission was “serious”.
The summit took place in the Argentine Cabinet Office on Wednesday, where around 70 diplomats met with global counterparts.
The purpose of the meeting was to present global representatives with the advantages of investing in the country’s Regime of Incentives for Large Investments (RIGI), one of the Government’s main strategies to attract capital to the country.
In particular, the diplomats were keen to attract mining investments.
In that context, the diplomats presented a map of Argentina, but did not include the Falklands – islands which Buenos Aires believe are rightfully theirs.
“We Argentine representatives couldn’t believe what we were seeing. If it was a mistake, it’s very serious because it was an official act; and if it was on purpose, it’s even more serious because we are relinquishing sovereignty,” a diplomat told domestic outlet A24.com.
The government decided, effectively, to “erase [the islands] from the map”, it was claimed.
Earlier this year, the country’s leader Javier Milei said he committed to finding a “roadmap” to sovereignty over the islands, but admitted it would not be in the near future.
“I want to reiterate our unwavering claim for the islands, and I commit that during our government we will be able to have a clear roadmap so that the Malvinas return to Argentine hands,” he said in April.
Shortly after Mr Milei’s speech, a Downing Street spokesman said the issue was already “settled decisively some time ago” and that the UK would “proactively defend” the islanders’ right to self-determination.