Does anyone else find it strange Argentina still thinks they won the Falklands War?

As an Argentine, I’d say that the issue of the Malvinas is much more than just what the islanders think or want. The conflict isn't based solely on the opinions of the people living there; it's about a historical, legitimate claim to sovereignty that Argentina has had for over 180 years. The Malvinas are considered part of Argentine territory according to UN Resolution 2065, which acknowledges the sovereignty dispute and calls for peaceful negotiations between both countries to find a solution.

Furthermore, it’s important to understand that decisions about the sovereignty of a territory shouldn’t depend solely on the wishes of its inhabitants, but also on international law principles and the territorial integrity of the countries involved. When it comes to historical justice and politics, Argentina has the right to claim the islands.
It’s true that there’s a complicated relationship, but the claim over the Malvinas is deeply rooted in Argentina’s national identity. And as President Milei has said, we will continue to fight to reclaim the islands because they are part of our history and our sovereignty. I recommend that you don’t approach a local about the Malvinas issue in that way, as it’s a very sensitive topic.

Resolution 2065 is a non binding resolution that recognises the sovereignty dispute, but nothing else.
It doesnt say Argentina is correct , nor does it say that the UK is correct.
Many Falklanders/Malvinenses who I have met say that the Argentine version of history is not correct .
Is there anyone sufficiently independent to give an accurate version of history?

GlasgowJohn said:

Resolution 2065 is a non binding resolution that recognises the sovereignty dispute, but nothing else.
It doesnt say Argentina is correct , nor does it say that the UK is correct.
Many Falklanders/Malvinenses who I have met say that the Argentine version of history is not correct .
Is there anyone sufficiently independent to give an accurate version of history?

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It seems like Resolution 2065 doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. I would guess that maybe some of the older Argentines had people that might have died or fought in that battle. But I would guess that the younger generations probably don't care that much. I met a few younger people in BA and asked them and they really didn't have much interest in that dispute. Do people even go there?

I talked to a bunch of people and asked if they had even been there and no one had. Is there even anything to do there? I get that both sides want it because it sounds like there might be some natural resources. But I would think that it should be dependent on what the locals want there. I don't know if it is true but I heard they need to vote on it. It wasn't even close! In the 2013 referendum 99.8% of voters chose to remain a British Overseas Territory. No one in their right mind there would want Argentina to control it. They should have the biggest say in if it goes back to Argentina.

GlasgowJohn said:

Resolution 2065 is a non binding resolution that recognises the sovereignty dispute, but nothing else.
It doesnt say Argentina is correct , nor does it say that the UK is correct.
Many Falklanders/Malvinenses who I have met say that the Argentine version of history is not correct .
Is there anyone sufficiently independent to give an accurate version of history?

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One thing Milei is right about is the Islanders right to determine its fate. Argentines are always complaining. They need to just get over this issue. Milei nailed it when he said that Argentines are not worthy enough to recover the territory and that the UK's stance is correct.

Argentines love to complain.

GlasgowJohn said:

Resolution 2065 is a non binding resolution that recognises the sovereignty dispute, but nothing else.
It doesnt say Argentina is correct , nor does it say that the UK is correct.
Many Falklanders/Malvinenses who I have met say that the Argentine version of history is not correct .
Is there anyone sufficiently independent to give an accurate version of history?

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Why in the world would the UK or anyone else for that matter care what Argentines think about it? Like other times in history, there was a dispute, then a war and the UK beat Argentina. Argentina surrendered and lost. Argentina can't even take care of its own citizens. Do you expect it to be able to take care of those on the island? Rightly so none of them want to be Argentine.

oil rush said:

One thing Milei is right about is the Islanders right to determine its fate. Argentines are always complaining. They need to just get over this issue. Milei nailed it when he said that Argentines are not worthy enough to recover the territory and that the UK's stance is correct.

Argentines love to complain.

"Cipayo", "traidor" y "funcional a los ingleses": las críticas a Milei por su discurso sobre Malvinas | El Presidente desconoció el reclamo por la soberanía de las islas

Los dichos del libertario por cadena nacional provocaron un repudio generalizado. Ex combatientes y dirigentes de todo el arco político salieron a cuestionar su alineamiento con los intereses de la potencia colonial durante el acto oficial en memoria d...

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I don't like Milei and believe he is terrible but on this issue of the Falklands he is corrupt. Let the people there decide. Smartly they want nothing to do with Argentina.

GlasgowJohn said:

Resolution 2065 is a non binding resolution that recognises the sovereignty dispute, but nothing else.
It doesnt say Argentina is correct , nor does it say that the UK is correct.
Many Falklanders/Malvinenses who I have met say that the Argentine version of history is not correct .
Is there anyone sufficiently independent to give an accurate version of history?

Click to expand...

Talk to any actual person that lives there and they will tell you they are happy. The younger Argentines do not feel strong on this issue. In another few decades I don't think many will care and it will certainly not go back to Argentina with so many locals that are against it. It's not even close! 99!

Argentines sound very dramatic! Charging treason against Milei for a speech? Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

As USA citizens, most of us of have friends and family for many generations who have gone to war. Giving an appreciation for the power of the military. In some sense it has desensitized us to the horrors of war while also making many us very anti-war. From an outsider, the claim to the Islands is removed from Geo-political reality but since the Island war is the only armed conflict of significance in Modern Argentina, there is a certain scar from the conflict that makes it extra memorable/important/ and traumatic. Which gives Argentinians an anti-war sentiment, which I have come to respect, especially with the regards to its relation to welcoming of foreigners and immigration. The lower social classes of young men that were drafted to go(much like any war) had no choice but to join the naval ranks, which merits respect and acknowledgment. Once after a night of heavy drinking in Plaza Serrano, hanging with some random locals with no money, I bought some beers. I listened as the they talked of their beloved Malvinas then threw the beer cans in the gutter. Good Times.

Good Stuff said:

As USA citizens, most of us of have friends and family for many generations who have gone to war. Giving an appreciation for the power of the military. In some sense it has desensitized us to the horrors of war while also making many us very anti-war. From an outsider, the claim to the Islands is removed from Geo-political reality but since the Island war is the only armed conflict of significance in Modern Argentina, there is a certain scar from the conflict that makes it extra memorable/important/ and traumatic. Which gives Argentinians an anti-war sentiment, which I have come to respect, especially with the regards to its relation to welcoming of foreigners and immigration. The lower social classes of young men that were drafted to go(much like any war) had no choice but to join the naval ranks, which merits respect and acknowledgment. Once after a night of heavy drinking in Plaza Serrano, hanging with some random locals with no money, I bought some beers. I listened as the they talked of their beloved Malvinas then threw the beer cans in the gutter. Good Times.

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Wow great story. But do the young really care about the Falklands? I asked a few people and none seemed too patriotic about it. Granted these were 20 something year olds. They were more worried about the economy than anything else. In the grand scheme of things I doubt many young care too much about this. Hell even Milei said people should give it a rest and let people who live there decide.

GlasgowJohn said:

There is always more than one version of history depending on what you want to believe.

But , I am at a failutre to understand why most Argentine free thinkers do not want to recognise the rights of the residents of the islands to determine their future.

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Agree about everyone's version of history.

I had always understood that in 1982, General Leopoldo Galtieri, facing declining popularity in Argentina due to economic stagnation and human rights abuses, followed a familiar playbook of leaders before and after him: launching an invasion of a foreign-controlled territory—in this case, the Falkland Islands—to distract the public, channel their frustration, and boost his standing. The plan initially worked, as notes that the invasion sparked patriotic demonstrations in Argentina, temporarily replacing anti-junta protests with nationalistic fervor.

What puzzles me, though, is why Argentines seem to hold onto this event so deeply. I hesitate to ask directly because it feels like touching a third rail—too sensitive a topic to broach without risking backlash. Beyond the invasion serving as Galtieri’s distraction, it also squandered military and national resources, and it appears Galtieri had little regard for the soldiers he sent into battle. The troops faced tough treatment of Argentine troops during the Falklands War, with reports of field punishments, starvation, and beatings, suggesting Galtieri treated his soldiers as expendable pawns in a conflict they were ill-equipped to win against British forces. So why the enduring attachment to this moment? Is it simply a matter of Argentines standing by their fellow citizens who served, despite Galtieri’s failed domestic and military leadership? Or is it a broader expression of national pride, where anything Argentina does—win or lose—gets romanticized?

This doesn’t seem to align with the “support the troops, oppose the war” sentiment often heard in the U.S. after the 2003 Iraq invasion, where Americans could separate their feelings for the soldiers from their views on the conflict itself. A closer analogy might be the Vietnam War: most Americans wanted to move on quickly, and any lingering positive sentiment was reserved for the veterans—many of whom were draftees—not the war itself, which is widely seen as a misadventure. In Argentina’s case, the Falklands War doesn’t appear to be viewed with the same desire to forget, but I’m unsure why.

I don’t have a personal stake in who controls the Falklands or how the islanders identify. The Islanders who are British, have consistently chosen to remain so, affirming their right to self-determination under the UN Charter—a 2013 referendum showed 99.8% of them wanted to stay British. I’m generally anti-imperialist but also strongly support self-determination, so I’m more curious about who the islanders themselves want to align with, which seems clear.

What I’m trying to understand is why I rarely hear Argentines frame Galtieri’s actions as a cynical attempt to shore up his popularity or acknowledge his reckless use of soldiers as cannon fodder. I’d never raise this question in a public setting outside this space, and I’m fully open to being told I’m missing critical context or completely misunderstanding the situation. Do you know @GlasgowJohn?

I guess Argentina learned FAFO. Most Argentines act like if they had the Falklands things would be different. Delusional as usual.