Falklands: After Netanyahu's son backs Argentina sovereignty, Trump hints US may review UK's claim

Falklands: After Netanyahu's son backs Argentina sovereignty, Trump hints US may review UK's claim Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 12:15 As Britain steps up its criticism of Israeli policy in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Israeli figures have thrown their weight behind Buenos Aires in dispute over south Atlantic islands Yair Netanyahu (left) and Sara Netanyahu listen to Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2025 in New York City (AFP/Alexi J Rosenfeld) Off Just days after Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that the Falkland Islands belonged to Buenos Aires, US President Donald Trump publicly indicated for the first time that Washington could reconsider its position on British sovereignty over the contested islands. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump was asked whether the US was reviewing its position on the Falkland Islands. “I always review every position – that’s just one of many,” Trump said. The US leader's comments mark the first time that Washington suggested it could reconsider its position on British sovereignty over the contested territory, known to Argentinians as the Islas Malvinas. Trump did not elaborate on what he meant. Argentina and the UK both assert sovereignty over the South Atlantic archipelago, which triggered a war between the two countries in 1982. An overwhelming majority of the territory's 3,600 residents back British rule. A leaked Pentagon memo from April suggested that Washington could use the Falklands as leverage in negotiations with the UK. Trump’s comments followed a series of posts over the weekend by Yair Netanyahu- a 35 year old political activist and son of the current Israeli leader- in which he questioned British sovereignty over the islands. World Cup 2026: Israel loves Argentina but do Argentinians actually love them back? Read More » Writing in Spanish, he declared : “The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina!” The Israeli national, who lives in the US, later boasted: “I contributed to Israel-Argentina relations with my tweet about the Malvinas Islands,” using Argentina’s name for the islands. Argentina’s staunchly pro-Israel President Javier Milei reposted Yair’s comments about the islands. As the country's economy strains under the weight of his policy reforms, Milei has made support for Israel a defining feature of the state's foreign policy. He has backed Benjamin Netanyahu throughout the Gaza genocide , spoken publicly about converting to Judaism and pledged to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem. Milei also frequently alternates between tears and ecstatic dances when talking about Israel. 'I don't care about the Falkland Islands' Yair went on to say that, unlike Britain, Argentina had remained a friend of Israel. He described the UK as being run by an “antisemitic, communist, jihadist” government. “Britain is currently a hostile country and Argentina is a friendly country. If in the future this changes, it's clear that my position will change too. I don't care about the Falkland Islands, I care about Israel,” Yair said in another post. In subsequent posts, Yair said his position was driven by “British hypocrisy and hostility towards Israel with their recognition of ' Palestine ' on half of our land and capital city!” Yair portrayed Israel as the victim, complaining that it had faced “nothing but hostility, antisemitism, and blood libels from your [British] government.” He also castigated the UK for its “constant meddling” in Israeli colonisation of Palestinian land. Before Yair's intervention the UK's Telegraph newspaper reported that pro-Israel Republicans had lobbied behind the scenes for Washington to reconsider its neutral position on the Falklands. Why is Latin America becoming a breeding ground for 'fanatics of Israel'? Read More » Israel wields more influence within the Trump administration than almost any foreign government or lobbying group in Washington. The British government’s recent criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its apartheid system in the occupied West Bank and a possible sanctions package previously reported by MEE could now encourage Israel and its allies to instrumentalise the Falklands dispute inside the Trump administration. Yair’s comments have angered sections of Britain’s pro-Israel right and far right. Rightwing commentator Alex Armstrong called the remarks “unconstructive” and pleaded with Yair not to confuse the British government with Israel’s supporters in the country. Armstrong, who reports for the right wing, pro-Israel channel GB News, added that Yair’s challenge to British sovereignty over the islands would alienate Israel’s allies in the UK. Rupert Lowe, a far right British lawmaker and another vocal supporter of Israel, also joined the backlash, declaring that “the Falklands are British and will remain so”. Lowe added that a future British government would defend the territory militarily if necessary. Latin America News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0