Buenos Aires, June 10th, 2025.
Today marks the 196th anniversary of the establishment of the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas Islands and the islands adjacent to Cape Horn by the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires.
On June 10, 1829, through a decree signed by then-Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, Martín Rodríguez, it was ordered that: "The Malvinas Islands and those adjacent to Cape Horn in the Atlantic Ocean shall be governed by a Political and Military Commander immediately appointed by the Government of the Republic." Argentine authorities at the time thus established a governmental structure, placing Mr. Luis Vernet at its head. Vernet settled on the islands and publicly exercised his authority and jurisdiction.
As the successor of Spain’s titles by state succession, in accordance with the uti possidetis iuris principle, Argentina has exercised its rights over the South Atlantic archipelagos in a continuous and public manner since the beginning of the emancipation process in 1810.
The first Argentine patriotic governments included the Malvinas Islands in various administrative acts, considering them an integral part of the national territory. On November 6, 1820, Colonel David Jewett of the Argentine Navy took possession of the Malvinas Islands on behalf of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, hoisting the Argentine flag for the first time. The Argentine government also issued regulations and established legal and administrative structures that consolidated the full exercise of its sovereignty, including the promotion of commercial activities and the settlement of population, culminating in the creation of the Political and Military Command of the Malvinas and the islands adjacent to Cape Horn on June 10, 1829.
However, on January 3, 1833, the effective exercise of sovereignty was interrupted by an act of force carried out by the United Kingdom, which illegally occupied the islands, expelling the legitimate Argentine authorities and the resident population. This act, carried out in peacetime and in violation of the international law of the time, disrupted the territorial integrity of Argentina. This situation was immediately protested and rejected and has never been consented to by any Argentine government in over 192 years.
Since then, there has been a sovereignty dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 2065 (XX) adopted in 1965. Accordingly, the United Nations has determined that the way to resolve the special and particular colonial situation concerning the Malvinas Islands is through the peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute between both countries.
In compliance with the aforementioned resolution, from 1966 and for 16 years, both countries held negotiations aimed at reaching a solution to the sovereignty dispute. Nevertheless, despite Argentina’s numerous invitations and the urging of the United Nations, the United Kingdom has systematically refused to resume sovereignty negotiations.
Meanwhile, the international community has repeatedly emphasized the need to resume bilateral negotiations as soon as possible. This has been expressed in 10 General Assembly resolutions and numerous resolutions from the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, as well as in various declarations from regional and multilateral forums, such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), among others.
Argentina has maintained and continues to maintain a constructive attitude toward the island inhabitants, considering their interests and respecting their way of life, in accordance with the First Transitory Provision of the National Constitution, which establishes that the recovery of the full exercise of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and the corresponding maritime and insular areas is a permanent and inalienable objective of the Argentine people.
In this context, the Argentine Government wishes to maintain a constructive relationship with the United Kingdom that includes substantive dialogue encompassing sovereignty negotiations and all other matters of mutual interest, within the framework of our National Constitution and UN General Assembly Resolution 2065 (XX) and related resolutions.
In the year of the 60th anniversary of United Nations Resolution 2065 (XX), the Argentine Government reaffirms its conviction that the only viable path to recover the exercise of its legitimate sovereign rights is through diplomatic means. It also reiterates its interest in the good offices mission entrusted by the General Assembly to the UN Secretary-General, aimed at assisting the parties in resuming negotiations to find as soon as possible a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the question of the Malvinas Islands.
On this date, always meaningful for all Argentines, we once again reaffirm our sovereignty rights over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas, as they are all integral parts of our national territory.
