This House Would Demilitarise the Falkland Islands

Motion: This House Would Demilitarise the Falkand Islands
Location: Ye Olde Cock Tavern, Fleet Street London, EC4Y 1AA
Time: 7:30
Date: Thursday the 16th of February

"The Falkland Islands were an little-known, barren and remote archipelago prior to the 1982 Argentine invasion and subsequent British military operation, which contributed to the 1983 Thatcher "khaki" election victory. Since then, the Falklands have been a symbol of British patriotism, an expression of the principle of self-determination and liberty and yet, at the same time, a continued source of resentment for Argentian politicians and people alike, who still believe the Falklands belong to Argentina.

In recent months, tensions have risen higher than for many years. The Argentian government is restricting rade with the islands, intercepting and searching trading ships and preventing them from reaching the Falklands. The United Kingdom has announced that state-of-the-art destroyer HMS Dauntless will be dispatched to the Falklands in March as part of routine operations, whilst the Argentines have alleged that the UK has sent a Vanguard-class nuclear weapons-equipped submarine to the area.

Given rising tensions, and both UK and Argentine governments more determined than ever that their views on the Falklands' sovereignty are correct, should the UK pull back its forces and commit to meaningful talks over the Falklands issue, or, now more than ever, demonstrate its commitment through its military presence to the Falkland islanders' right to self-determination?"

As ever you decide

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The CLDS Team