United States Reaffirms Neutrality on Malvinas Following Leaked Pentagon Reports

The US State Department confirms its neutral stance on the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands dispute despite reports of a potential policy shift under the Trump administration.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 10:24 AM EDT

Source: Buenos Aires Times

Context of the Pentagon Memo Leak

The clarification from Washington follows reports originally published by Reuters involving leaked internal Pentagon documents. These reports suggested that officials within President Donald Trump’s administration were conducting a broad review of US policy toward European "imperial possessions." The leaked information hinted that the US might reconsider its historical diplomatic support for the UK's claim in light of evolving geopolitical tensions and the close political bond between the White House and Argentine President Javier Milei.

Despite these reports, a State Department spokesperson was firm: “Our position on the islands remains one of neutrality. We acknowledge that there are competing claims of sovereignty between Argentina and the United Kingdom.” The spokesperson added that while the US recognizes the UK’s “de facto administration,” it refuses to take a side on the legal resolution of the claim.

The UK Response: Unwavering Sovereignty

British officials reacted swiftly to the reports of a potential US policy shift. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper took to social media to declare that “the Falkland Islands are British,” emphasizing that sovereignty rests with the UK and the right to self-determination rests with the islanders.

Downing Street echoed this sentiment, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer citing the 2013 referendum in which nearly 100% of the islands' population voted to remain a UK Overseas Territory. The British government maintains that the principle of self-determination is the primary legal factor in the dispute, a position they claim is "unwavering" regardless of external policy reviews from the Pentagon or the White House.