UK reaffirms commitment towards Malvinas, overseas territories

Britain reiterated its determination to continue to defend the Malvinas Islands and other overseas territories on Thursday, an official document known as the White Paper said. The document declares there would be "no weakening" in Britain's resolve.

The paper – which sets out a vision for the future of the British 14 overseas territories – was signed by the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague, and pledges to continue to ensure the “sovereignty over the Territories.”

In the text, the UK vows to guarantee the overseas territories citizens “right of self-determination” and states the commitment to maintain military presence in order to assure UK’s sovereignty over the South Atlantic territories.

"In the South Atlantic, British forces will maintain a defensive military posture to defend the Falklands and other British islands. There will be no weakening of the Government's resolve."

Hague explained the paper was designed to strengthen Britain's engagement with the Territories - which also include Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; Cayman Islands; the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus; Gibraltar; Montserrat; the Pitcairn Islands; St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands; and the British Virgin Islands.

"Today's White Paper is the first review of the Overseas Territories since 1999 and it demonstrates the importance the coalition Government attaches to the Overseas Territories," the foreign official said today.