UK regrets Peru's cancellation of HMS Montrose visit

The UK Government said they “regretted” the decision made by the Peruvian government to cancel the HMS Montrose frigate’s stopover at El Callao port in Peru this week.

The ship which was recently patrolling waters around the Malvinas islands was supposed to stop as part of a routine deployment, but was halted when Peru decided to reiterate their defence of Argentina’s stance on the Malvinas islands.

“The HMS Montrose was scheduled to make a short visit to Peru as part of a routine deployment to the region. This was agreed as an act of friendship and cooperation between Peru and the UK,” an FCO spokesperson in London said last night.

In response to Peru's recent turnaround decision, David Cameron’s government further stated that “ship visits are a sovereign decision for states, but we regret that Peru has revoked its previous agreement to this visit."

The UK's Foreign Office also said that following Jeremy Browne's visit to Peru last week, the decision was made "despite the Peruvian Government having had the opportunity on Friday to raise any concerns it had about this agreed cooperation."

The announcement of Peru’s government to void their already approved entry for the Montrose frigate to El Callao port in the country was made yesterday by Peru’s Foreign Minister Rafael Roncagliolo, in a bid to further underline Peru’s support for Argentina in the Malvinas sovereignty issue.

The UK Government responded and stated that they “remain fully committed to the Falkland islanders' right to self determination. This position will not change.”