Govt says Falklands are British after email leaked with US options for Iran war payback

The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the US' position on the Falklands as punishment for Britain's stance on the Iran war.

The email reportedly includes detailed options for Washington to harm Nato allies it thinks have not sufficiently supported Operation Epic Fury, a US official told Reuters.

The policy note is said to have expressed frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights – known as ABO – for the Iran war.

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UK position on the islands is unchanged 

"We could not be clearer about the UK's position on the Falkland Islands. It is long-standing, it is unchanged," the spokesperson said.

"Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the islands' right to self-determination is paramount. It's been our consistent position and will remain the case."

US President Donald Trump has previously criticised Nato for not helping in the war with Iran, labelling the alliance "a paper tiger" in a TruthSocial post on 20 March.

Mr Trump has also attacked Sir Keir, suggesting he is "not Winston Churchill" after the Prime Minister's initial refusal to allow the US military to use UK bases for strikes on Iran last month.

Stephen Doughty MP, the Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories minister, said in a post on X that the islands are British.

"As I confirmed to Parliament earlier this week, our commitment to the self-determination, sovereignty and defence of the Falkland Islands and their people is resolute – and will always come first," Mr Doughty said.

Luke Pollard, the Defence Readiness and Industry minister, posted on X: "The Falklands are British for as long as the Falkland Islanders want to be."

The leaked memo 

The leaked memo includes an option to consider reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European "imperial possessions," such as the islands close to Argentina.

The US State Department's website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom, but are still claimed by Buenos Aires, whose president Javier Milei is an ally of the US president.

The UK and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 after Argentina tried to conquer them. Some 650 Argentine and 255 British personnel died before Argentina surrendered.

What UK military facilities and assets are in the Falklands?

Following the conclusion of the Falklands War, the Mount Pleasant Complex – situated 27 miles (43km) west of the capital, Stanley – was created in 1985.

The UK forces based on the islands, known as the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), are made up of around 1,500 personnel from all three services. The BFSAI also protects South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The British Army has a garrison on the Falkland Islands to help the other two services with ground capabilities, such as air defence and infantry specialists.

The Royal Artillery and Corps of Royal Engineers are currently there, according to the Army.

The RAF is deployed at the base at the bottom of the world, where No 1435 Flight operates four Typhoons FGR4 fighters, and No 1312 Flight uses a Voyager tanker and an Atlas A400M transport aircraft, according to the RAF.

The Royal Navy's vessels can dock at the base's port facility, Mare Harbour.

HMS Medway, a River-class offshore patrol vessel, crewed by 28 personnel, sailed to the region to take over from her sister ship, HMS Forth, in January this year.

She is tasked with patrolling the 778 islands that make up the Falklands, enforcing fisheries laws, and conducting general maritime security operations.

Alongside the UK forces, the islands have a part-time volunteer force, called the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF), a company-strength light infantry force.

The FIDF does not come under BFSAI command as it is a national defence force, but BFSAI supports its training when requested.

The FIDF receives training from a Warrant Officer seconded from the Royal Marines and has been trained by the Royal Navy to operate the Oerlikon 20mm cannon and to board vessels suspected of fishery poaching.