Argentine President's Advisor Sparks Falklands Outrage Amid Rising Tensions with Britain

A close advisor to Argentine President Javier Milei has drawn attention by linking the election of a Somali-born MP to the British parliament with the argument that the UK is being "Islamized," while presenting it as a further reason for Argentina to pursue sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

In a social media post, Santiago Caputo — seen as a key figure in Argentina's Falklands strategy — argued that control of the South Atlantic archipelago is necessary to prevent "interference by an Islamic state" in the region. President Milei shared the post on X.

The remarks from Buenos Aires come amid heightened tensions between Argentina and Britain over sovereignty of the British overseas territory. The Falkland Islands lie about 300 miles off the coast of South America.

British Labour MP Sagal Abdi-Wali won the seat representing Holborn and St Pancras in London this month, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski. She formally took her seat in parliament on Monday. Abdi-Wali was formerly a Somali child refugee.

In the post on X, Caputo — who has worked for Milei since 2021 — wrote that the United Kingdom "in many ways is the cradle of modern Western civilization," but is now a threat to the West.

"Seeing the United Kingdom Islamized is not only an immediate risk to the cause of the entire West, but also a historical tragedy for those who defend liberal ideas," Caputo wrote. He called it "one more reason" for Argentina to assert its position in the South Atlantic and reclaim the islands Argentina calls Las Malvinas.

Milei's advisor also stressed the strategic geopolitical importance of the South Atlantic in the coming decades, arguing that the West "cannot allow an Islamic state to penetrate this sphere of influence," and that reclaiming the Malvinas is "not only a national cause, but a Western cause."

Caputo attached to the post an image of Abdi-Wwali at her swearing-in ceremony in parliament. Below the photo, Spanish right-wing journalist Javier Negre commented that a Muslim woman of Somali origin was taking her oath on the Qur'an in the British parliament, that she had taken the seat previously held by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and that "Islam is steadily gaining more power in this country."

The remarks come as Argentina steps up pressure over the Falklands. President Milei has sought to criminalize executives involved in the islands' nascent oil and gas industry, and has threatened to target the fishing sector on which the islands' economy depends.

Argentina has long pursued sovereignty over the islands. According to British officials, the level of Argentine pressure over the Falklands is now unprecedented since the war 44 years ago, when Argentina under dictator Leopoldo Galtieri ordered an invasion.

The 74-day conflict in 1982 ended with Argentine forces surrendering, leaving 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders dead.

This week, Andy Burnham reaffirmed Britain's position that it will respect the wishes of the islands' 3,600 residents to remain British, while the UK government announced its intention to protect the interests of businesses operating in the Falklands.

The Guardian previously reported that the British Foreign Office wrote to Interpol asking the organization not to favorably respond to arrest requests for individuals working in the Falklands.

In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of Falkland residents voted to remain a British territory, with only three votes against.