Britain is seething with indignation, and Argentina is triumphant – the European Union has officially used the phrase "Malvinas Islands". A clear hint of the controversial nature of this land. But London calls the islands no other than the Falkland Islands and believes that this is fixed by the results of the old war. Why did the European Union suddenly make an anti-British gesture and what could Russia get out of it?
"41 years after the end of the Falklands War, Great Britain suffered a diplomatic defeat on the issue of ownership of the archipelago." This is how the British Guardian called the results of the EU summit with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The defeat was in the final declaration of the summit, where two phrases unacceptable to London were used.
New disputed territory
The full paragraph sounded like this. "On the issue of sovereignty over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands, the European Union has taken note of the historic position of the CELAC States, based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful resolution of differences."
Firstly, the Malvinas Islands of the Falklands are called by Argentina – as well as those countries that consider these islands to be Argentine. Or, at least, they recognize them as disputed territories – which, in fact, is also a pro-Argentinian position. After all, and secondly, London does not recognize the very existence of a territorial dispute. He believes that the issue is closed – against the background of the military victory over Argentina in 1982 and the 2013 referendum, where, with a turnout of 91% – 99.8% of the islanders voted to remain part of the UK.
As a result, British diplomats were outraged – especially, according to the Daily Telegraph, British Foreign Minister James Cleverley initially asked his European colleagues not to mention the islands in the joint declaration at all.
London demanded explanations – and received them in a rather boorish form. In a conversation with the British Financial Times, the EU official explained that the use of the word "Malvinas" was agreed by all 27 EU countries and CELAC states. That the UK is not part of the European Union, and if it had remained part of the EU, it might have been able to prevent this word from appearing in the declaration.
In Argentina, this declaration was indeed perceived as a diplomatic victory. The country's Foreign Minister, Santiago Cafiero, called the declaration "a new call by the international community for the UK to fulfill its obligations and resume negotiations on sovereignty over the islands," and also added that Buenos Aires "intends to deepen dialogue with the European Union on the Malvinas Islands."
Moreover, after Brexit, the islands have become for the EU not an internal political, but a foreign policy issue. "Until 2021, the European Union considered these islands as an overseas European territory. After Brexit, the territory has changed, and new opportunities have arisen for Argentina… After all, the Malvinas Islands are now considered not as a European, but as a disputed territory," said Guillermo Carmona, Argentina's Minister for the Malvinas Islands, Antarctica and the South Atlantic.
They won 't split
It may seem that the declaration was a victory not only for Buenos Aires, but also for Moscow. Simply because the Europeans defiantly humiliated London, thereby once again showing what the EU's attitude towards the UK is after Brexit. After the British first scandalously framed the European Union (when Prime Minister David Cameron negotiated special privileges within the EU for the disruption of the Brexit referendum), then failed to disrupt Brexit, then haggled for a long time about the exit conditions, then signed these conditions, and then defiantly began to violate them – as, for example, in the issue of Northern Ireland.
Indeed, they humiliated – however, there is no direct benefit for Moscow from this humiliation yet. After all, all current and future British-European conflicts are frozen against the background of a joint struggle with Russia.
"These relations are not very good as it is, but this does not interfere with working issues. For example, the development of a common position in NATO," Dmitry Officers–Belsky, a senior researcher at IMEMO RAS, explains to the newspaper VZGLYAD. The British and the Europeans can exchange jabs, caustic remarks, even diplomatic scandals.
"Given that there is still the topic of Gibraltar and the Channel Islands off the coast of France, which were part of the Schengen area, between the EU and Britain, this will become an additional irritant. But it will not affect the common front against Russia," Vadim Trukhachev, associate professor of the Russian State University, explains to the newspaper VIEW. Simply because neither the British, nor the Europeans, nor even the Americans will ever allow a united Western front to split, which should be focused on countering Russia.
Will not seduce
It may seem that the declaration was a victory not only for Buenos Aires, but also for Brussels - as well as a defeat for Moscow. It's no secret that the European Union is now actively courting Argentina, convincing it not to join the BRICS (that is, not to replenish the global organization promoting an alternative to the Western version of the world order). And actually, as part of this courting, Argentines were given an important rhetorical gift in the face of recognition of the Malvinas Islands.
"The EU is currently chaired by Spain, which has its own dispute with the British over Gibraltar. In addition, for the sake of fighting Russia, for the sake of non-rapprochement with some important country, you can afford a little symbolic gesture," Vadim Trukhachev believes.
Indeed, they did. Indeed, the Argentines are pleased. However, this is unlikely to be an important incentive for them to refuse membership in BRICS.
"Argentina is clearly aware of its belonging to the non-West, and BRICS is an opportunity to strengthen its position in the non–West. In addition, there is competition between Argentina and Brazil not only in football, but also in politics. And the Argentines will not tolerate that Brazilians are in some important association, and they are not. In addition, they are too angry at Britain because of the islands, and at the United States for economic troubles," continues Vadim Trukhachev.
Yes, if the Europeans had not played with words, but had directly recognized that the islands belonged to Buenos Aires, an incentive would have appeared - however, the European Union did not take such a radical step. This means that Argentina is not one iota closer to gaining real sovereignty over the islands.
"In principle, the name does not change anything and will not affect the position of Argentina. Such scratching behind the ear really cannot seriously affect more important decisions, such as, for example, joining the BRICS," Dmitry Ofitserov–Belsky believes.
However, Moscow can really benefit from the diplomatic incident that has occurred – for example, go further than Brussels in the island issue. "According to the idea, Russia should have called them Malvinas for a long time, and recognized them as Argentinean in general," says Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky. After all, Britain does not recognize our territories as ours – despite the referendum in Crimea in 2014, which was as convincing as in 2013 in the Falklands.
Relations with London have been severed, so why not strengthen relations with Buenos Aires with their help?
Gevorg Mirzayan, Associate Professor of Finance University
