Echo Comment on US questioning future of Falkland Islands
Leaders of Reform and the Conservatives joined the Labour Prime Minister in saying that Britainβs sovereignty of the islands, which are 8,000 miles away, is not in question. LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey even suggested the kingβs visit to the US should be pulled in protest.
Donald Trump is doing what he does best: he is trying to bully people into falling in meekly behind him. He is trying to provoke a reaction.
But this canβt just be dismissed as βDonald being Donaldβ. The Argentinian president, Javier Milei, is very close to Trump and, even if the US president doesnβt really mean what is in the memo, it will encourage Milei.
And, as usual, Mr Trump has failed to consider those who matter most: the people. Where do the Falkland Islanders want to live?
In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of voters, on a 92 per cent turnout, chose to remain a UK Overseas Territory. Only three out of the 1,517 votes cast were against staying with the UK.
It should be up to them where and how they want to live, just as it should be up the Ukrainians to decide how they want to live.Β Or indeed the people of Greenland.
As leader of the free world, on a point of principle, Mr Trump should be supporting fair and democratic societies,Β not using them as bargaining chips in an attempt to get his own way.