CURRENT SITUATION
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 5:19 am
In 1982, the South Atlantic conflict took place and Argentina and the United Kingdom broke off diplomatic relations. These were reestablished in February 1990.
The resumption of diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom—following the Madrid Joint Declarations of 1989 and 1990—was made possible by the adoption of a formula safeguarding sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding special lead maritime areas. In accordance with the Joint Declaration of 19 October 1989, this formula applies to all bilateral meetings on practical matters related to the Malvinas Islands, as well as to statements and acts by the parties or third parties that take place as a result of the agreements reached at the meetings.
Following the Madrid Joint Declarations of 1989 and 1990 with the United Kingdom, various provisional understandings on practical matters related to the South Atlantic were adopted, under the formula safeguarding sovereignty, in successive joint declarations and exchanges of notes. These relate to measures to build mutual confidence in military matters in order to avoid incidents, conservation of fishing resources, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons, air and sea communications between the Argentine mainland and the islands, access to the islands for Argentine passport holders, construction of a monument to the Argentine fallen on the islands in 1982, exchange of information on the external delimitation of the continental shelf, carrying out a feasibility study on demining in the Malvinas Islands and analysis of their toponymy.
The resumption of diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom—following the Madrid Joint Declarations of 1989 and 1990—was made possible by the adoption of a formula safeguarding sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding special lead maritime areas. In accordance with the Joint Declaration of 19 October 1989, this formula applies to all bilateral meetings on practical matters related to the Malvinas Islands, as well as to statements and acts by the parties or third parties that take place as a result of the agreements reached at the meetings.
Following the Madrid Joint Declarations of 1989 and 1990 with the United Kingdom, various provisional understandings on practical matters related to the South Atlantic were adopted, under the formula safeguarding sovereignty, in successive joint declarations and exchanges of notes. These relate to measures to build mutual confidence in military matters in order to avoid incidents, conservation of fishing resources, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons, air and sea communications between the Argentine mainland and the islands, access to the islands for Argentine passport holders, construction of a monument to the Argentine fallen on the islands in 1982, exchange of information on the external delimitation of the continental shelf, carrying out a feasibility study on demining in the Malvinas Islands and analysis of their toponymy.