Falkland Islands ARE in Argentina, according to United Nations

Argentina is celebrating a UN commission decision that has increased its maritime territory in the South Atlantic Ocean to include the disputed Falkland Islands and beyond. Argentina’s foreign ministry said its waters had been increased by 0.66 million square miles (1.7 million square kilometres) - a jump of 35% - and the decision will be key in its dispute with Britain over the islands which it calls Las Malvinas.

This is a historic occasion for Argentina because we’ve made a huge leap in the demarcation of the exterior limit of our continental shelf.

Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra

The islands were at the centre of a dispute in 1982 when Argentina seized the South Atlantic archipelago and put its troops on British sovereign territory. Britain repelled the occupation and the islands are now self-governing, with Britain responsible for its defence and foreign affairs - and many islanders still want no connection with Argentina. The UK says the islanders cannot be forced to accept Argentine rule against their will. Earlier this month, the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf sided with Argentina, ratifying the country’s 2009 report fixing the limit of its territory at 200 to 350 miles from its coast. However, the UN did note that the diplomatic dispute between Argentina and Britain remained unresolved.

Our understanding has always been that the UN would not make any determination on applications for continental shelf extension in areas where there are competing claims.

Mike Summers, chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands

Falklands