Cameron accuses Argentina of 'colonialism' over Malvinas
Speaking at the House of Commons, Cameron said that the National Security Council had discussed the subject and guaranteed that all defences were in order in the Malvinas Islands.
Tensions have escalated after the Mercosur, the South American trading bloc, decided in December, at the request of Buenos Aires, to close its ports to ships flying the flag of the archipelago.
The prime minister explained that the future of the islands was ''down to the people''.
"The key point is we support the (Malvinas) Islanders' right to self-determination, and what the Argentineans have been saying recently, I would argue is actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentineans want them to do something else,” the Prime Minister explained.
"The absolutely vital point is that we are clear that the future of the (Malvinas) Islands is a matter for the people themselves, and as long as they want to remain part of the United Kingdom and be British they should be able to do so," he added.
"I'm determined we should make sure that our defences and everything else is in order, which is why the National Security Council discussed this issue yesterday."
Malvinas islands are located in the south Atlantic over 400 nautical miles from Argentina, a British protectorate since early 1800’s.
Argentina has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands. Last December, President Cristina Kirchner accused Britain of "taking Argentine resources" and ignoring UN resolutions as she called for renewed talks about the future of the archipelago.
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