Donald Trump 'reviewing' the United States' position on the Falkland Islands, amid defence spending row
President Trump has waded into the debate, telling reporters: "I always review every position. That's just one of many," when asked about the islands' sovereignty.
Donald Trump said he was reviewing the United States' position on the Falkland Islands, just days after a senior Trump official threatened to oppose Britain's sovereignty over the islands if Andy Burnham does not increase defence spending.
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President Trump has waded into the debate, telling reporters: "I always review every position. That's just one of many," when asked about the islands' sovereignty.
His comments come after a senior US official reportedly said that Britain will receive "special attention" from Washington in its attempts to get NATO spending up.
Asked by the Daily Telegraph last week whether the US could change its position on the islands, a senior official responded that "nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek".
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A potential US shift was included among a range of options considered by the Pentagon earlier this year to pressure NATO allies it believes failed to support US military operations in the war with Iran.
Trump did not signal whether the review would change the United States' position on sovereignty, which has generally avoided taking sides since 1982.
The government has come out in defence of the islands, insisting that they will remain under British possession.
A spokesperson for the UK government said: "The UK position on the Falkland Islands is long-standing and unwavering: they are and will remain a British Overseas Territory in line with the wishes of the Falkland islanders.
"The UK is playing a central role in NATO and strengthening collective defence across Europe.
"We are NATO's third largest cash spender on defence and the only European NATO member to commit our nuclear deterrent to the alliance."
Argentina, led by Trump ally Javier Milei, has also claimed sovereignty over the islands.
The islands' sovereignty has long been a contentious political issue - with Argentina maintaining that it should control the South Atlantic territory.
Britain and Argentina fought the 1982 Falklands War over the islands - with Argentina defeated but never dropping its claim.
The question of the islands' future shot into view earlier this summer, when officials from the South American nation suggested that talks should be opened ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina.
After Argentina won the match 2-0, their players then unfurled a banner reading "The Malvinas are Argentine".
The Malvinas are the name which Argentines use for the archipelago.