POLITICS-ARGENTINA: Britain Ends Military Embargo

By Marcela Valente Reprint | | Print |

Marcela Valente

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 17 1998 (IPS) - The British government Thursday announced the lifting of a military embargo imposed on Argentina in 1982 when the two countries went to war over the Malvinas Islands.

The British move restored ties between London and Buenos Aires to the level they were at before Argentina invaded the South Atlantic archipelago, called the Falklands by the British and claimed by both nations. The invasion led to a suspension of diplomatic ties.

The two democratic governments that have ruled Argentina since the end of a 1976-1983 dictatorship there never gave up the South American nation’s historical claim to the islands, which lie off its southern tip and are administered by Britain. However, they managed to restore trade, political and cultural ties with the European nation.

The re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990 opened the doors to British investment in Argentina but the military embargo remained in force until Thursday.

Britain stressed Thursday that it would only sell Argentina weapons that would not jeopardise the lives of the Falkland Islanders. It said export orders would be analysed on a case-by- case basis in keeping with European Union (EU) norms.

Hours before the end of the embargo was announced in London, Argentina’s government had told the media to prepare to receive “spectacular” news. Foreign Minister Guido di Tella and Defence Minister Jorge Dominguez later relayed the British decision.

Dominguez related the British move to work done by the foreign and defence ministries, the fact that military contingents from the two countries have been working together on UN peacekeeping missions and an October trip to Britain by President Carlos Menem.

Menem’s visit was the first official trip to Britain by an Argentine president since the Falklands-Malvinas war. He was received by Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair and, while no progress was made on the Malvinas issue, the Argentine government saw his mission as extremely important.

Trade between the two nations has increased in the nine years that Menem has been in power and so has British investment in Argentina.

Di Tella said “the geopolitical situation in the South Atlantic is going through a total Copernican change” due to the end of the British arms embargo and a treaty signed Wednesday by Menem and Chilean President Eduardo Frei that ended a border dispute over the Southern Icefields.

The conflict over the Icefields, located along their southern frontier, was the last of the 24 border disputes that remained between Argentina and Chile when Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet stepped down in 1990.

In 1978, the two nations almost went to war over the Beagle Islands at the southern tip of the continent.

Britain had capitalised on the fact that relations between the two neighbours have traditionally been chilly: London received Chile’s backing in the 1982 war. However, the Eduardo Frei government has now distanced itself from Britain because of Pinochet’s detention in London.

The ex-dictator faces extradition proceedings that could result in his going to Spain to be tried for crimes against humanity.

On Wednesday, Frei signed a declaration backing Argentina’s claim to the Malvinas and announced that Lan Chile airline would not renew a contract it has with London to fly to the islands.