Thursday, January 19, 2012
Cameron reported of Argentine plan for 'fishermen's invasion'
After yesterday’s crossfire between the UK and Argentina over the Malvinas Islands, a British newspaper revealed that the UK Prime Minister’s accusations of ‘colonialism’ against Argentina came after being warned that “Buenos Aires was plotting a mock fishermen’s invasion.”
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Cameron's accusations came as it emerged that the Ministry of Defence has a 'contingency plans' in place enabling troops to be deployed swiftly in an emergency to the Malvinas via Ascensión Island.
The tabloid indicates that British Ministers were shown plans drawn up to combat a campaign of intimidation planned by Argentina to mark the anniversary of the 1982 conflict, during a National Security Council summit hosted by Cameron days ago devoted to the defence of the islands.
Cameron was warned at the meeting of intelligence showing that Argentine fishermen could be sent to land on the Malvinas and the neighbouring island of South Georgia to plant an Argentine flag.
The mock invasion fears have echoes of the 1982 conflict which began when an Argentine force landed on South Georgia, which was defended by a small company of UK’s Royal Marines.
UK Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards has already outlined Britain’s contingency plans and reassured Cameron that Britain can defend the islands.
But ministers and spy chiefs warned the Prime Minister that Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner will use the 30th anniversary as the pretext to ‘raise the temperature’.
At the NSC summit, Cameron led a series of war game discussions about how to respond to a series of provocations by Argentina.
The NSC agreed that the Malvinas police – rather than the Armed Forces – would be used to combat a flag-planting stunt by the Argentines.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Cameron's accusations came as it emerged that the Ministry of Defence has a 'contingency plans' in place enabling troops to be deployed swiftly in an emergency to the Malvinas via Ascensión Island.
The tabloid indicates that British Ministers were shown plans drawn up to combat a campaign of intimidation planned by Argentina to mark the anniversary of the 1982 conflict, during a National Security Council summit hosted by Cameron days ago devoted to the defence of the islands.
Cameron was warned at the meeting of intelligence showing that Argentine fishermen could be sent to land on the Malvinas and the neighbouring island of South Georgia to plant an Argentine flag.
The mock invasion fears have echoes of the 1982 conflict which began when an Argentine force landed on South Georgia, which was defended by a small company of UK’s Royal Marines.
UK Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards has already outlined Britain’s contingency plans and reassured Cameron that Britain can defend the islands.
But ministers and spy chiefs warned the Prime Minister that Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner will use the 30th anniversary as the pretext to ‘raise the temperature’.
At the NSC summit, Cameron led a series of war game discussions about how to respond to a series of provocations by Argentina.
The NSC agreed that the Malvinas police – rather than the Armed Forces – would be used to combat a flag-planting stunt by the Argentines.
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Tension rises between Argentina, UK over Malvinas sovereignty
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