“The sovereignty of Gibraltar is not negotiable and the Falkland Islands are British and will remain so”

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, said this Wednesday in Parliament that the Falkland Islands “are British” and “will remain so”, and that the sovereignty of the Rock of Gibraltar “is not negotiable.”

In the control session at House of CommonsStarmer mentioned the two overseas territories following the concern of conservative deputies, in the opposition, about the decision of the Executive to grant sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The Labor leader mentioned that His uncle fought in the Falklands War, that confronted the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982 for its sovereignty and that Buenos Aires has claimed since 1833, so, for him, This is a matter that “is personal.”

“My uncle almost lost his life when his ship was torpedoed defending the Falklands. They are British and will remain British. Likewise, the sovereignty of Gibraltar is not negotiable,” said the prime minister amid shouts of support from deputies in the lower house.

““I have been clear about the Falklands, for me it is personal”he pointed out.

Last week, The British Government announced an agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to this former colony, although the United Kingdom will continue to control the Diego García military base, in the Indian Ocean, for the next 99 years.

Under the pact, The United Kingdom will accept that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelagowhere the Diego García military base is controlled by the Americans and British.

The Indian Ocean nation had claimed the islands since it ceased to be a British colony in 1968.

Under their agreement, the United Kingdom and Mauritius will cooperate on maritime security, environmental protection, combating illegal fishing, trade, irregular immigration and drug and people trafficking.