Falklands War veteran Simon Weston dismisses Argentine President Javier Milei's threat to retake the Falkland Islands as "ridiculous". Mr. Weston, a Welsh Guardsman who suffered severe burns in the 1982 conflict, believes Argentina's claims mean nothing and that their military is unable to carry out an attack due to its weakness and lack of investment. Military experts agree with Mr. Weston, stating that Argentina lacks sufficient air and naval forces to sustain attacks on the islands, which are protected by a British military garrison including RAF Typhoon jets. The UK did not oppose the sale of F-16s to Argentina, but Mr. Weston doubts they will be used for an attack, calling President Milei's words "empty" and "rhetoric".
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Britain's most celebrated Falklands War veteran has dismissed Argentine threats to retake the islands as 'ridiculous'.
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veteran → see → islands
Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston, who suffered severe burns in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict, said Argentina's latest claims to the British territory 'mean absolutely nothing'.
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claims → suffer → nothing
Mr Weston survived the sinking of the Royal Navy ship Sir Galahad after it was struck by a missile.
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it → survive → missile
Of his platoon of 30 men, 22 were killed.
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22 → kill → men
But the veteran rubbished prospects that Argentina could retake the islands.
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Argentina → rubbish → islands
'The Argentine navy is mainly where we left it, at the bottom of the sea,' he told the BBC.
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he → leave → BBC
'They haven't invested in their army.
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They → invest → army
They've bought some jets from Denmark but I don't think they are going to use force.
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they → buy → force
(Argentine president Javier) Milei has said they're not going to fight but he could change his position overnight.
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he → say → position
Mr Weston added that Donald Trump, who has appeared sympathetic to Mr Milei's position, was 'throwing a hissy fit', after Britain declined to support the US campaign against Iran.
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Britain → add → Iran
He also hit back at Mr Milei, who said that 'winds of change' favoured his country's claim to the islands.
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winds → hit → islands
Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston, who suffered severe burns in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict, said Argentina's latest claims to the British territory 'mean absolutely nothing'
uncertain
claims → suffer → nothing
Military experts agree that Argentina could not recover the Falklands by force due to the presence of a British military garrison on the islands, including a quartet of RAF Typhoon jets
Argentine president Javier Milei has insisted he will 'act swiftly' to 'recover' the Falkland Islands, which he claims belong to Argentina by law and historical precedent
'
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he → agree → law
They're just empty words and they mean absolutely nothing.
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they → mean → nothing
It is just rhetoric – he's sabre-rattling again, unsettling the Islanders, but playing to the crowd.
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he → rattle → crowd
'Argentina is in economic crisis – that's what caused them to invade 44 years ago.
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them → cause → crisis
Nothing has changed.'
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Nothing → change → ?
Mr Weston said the Argentine president's proposed sanctions on oil companies were 'ridiculous' because the firms 'haven't got a footprint' in their country.
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firms → say → country
Military experts agree that Argentina could not recover the Falklands by force due to the presence of a British military garrison on the islands, including a quartet of RAF Typhoon jets.
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Argentina → agree → jets
The closest Argentine airfields are 300 nautical miles from the islands, while its air and naval forces do not include sufficient refuelling assets to sustain attacks by the recently purchased F-16s.
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forces → include → F-16s
Six of the US-manufactured but previously Danish-owned jets arrived in Argentina in November last year.
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Six → manufacture → November
A further 18 are expected by 2028.
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18 → expect → 2028
It is understood the UK did not oppose the sale.
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UK → understand → sale
The Typhoons from the RAF's 1435 Flight comprise a quick-reaction force should Argentina launch any attack.
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Argentina → comprise → attack
The Sky Sabre air defence system positioned on Mount Byron also provides protection.
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system → position → protection
Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe said: 'Could Argentina invade us tomorrow?
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Argentina → say → us
They lack the logistic support.
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They → lack → support
In 1982 they had the famous aircraft carrier the General Belgrano.
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they → have → carrier
Back then the military junta ruling the country calculated a rapid operation might create a fait accompli before Britain could respond effectively.
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Britain → rule → accompli
'It was a gamble that didn't pay off.
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that → pay → ?
I don't think they'd try that again.'
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they → think → that
Some 255 British servicemen were killed in the 1982 conflict.
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servicemen → kill → conflict
