Javier Milei is set to address Argentina over its “sacred” claim to the Falkland Islands following renewed questions over Washington’s position on the British territory.
The Argentine President will deliver a national address at 9pm local time on Thursday focused on what Buenos Aires calls the “Malvinas question”.
Argentina’s presidential spokesman said: “This Thursday at 9pm, President Javier Milei will deliver a national address with a message concerning the Malvinas question.
“The content of the message is being worked on by the President, together with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and the State Intelligence Secretariat.
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“For the moment, we cannot provide any further details about the content of the national address.”
Mr Milei later fiercely defended his decision to make the televised address, describing Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the British territory as a “sacred” cause.
He said: “We announced a national address for Thursday at 9pm on an issue that is sacred to Argentines, the Malvinas cause, a historic claim of the Argentine people.”
Mr Milei branded critics of the decision “human scum” and questioned whether they were willing to attack his Government even if it meant “defending foreign interests”.
The libertarian leader also vowed to continue pursuing Argentina’s claim over the islands, declaring: “We will continue defending the interests of the Argentine nation tooth and nail, regardless of who it upsets.”
The intervention comes after Donald Trump suggested Washington could reconsider its position when questioned about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
“I always review every position. That’s just one of many,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
His remarks followed reports that the US was considering challenging the archipelago’s sovereignty if Prime Minister Andy Burnham failed to increase defence spending.
A senior US official said Britain was likely to receive “special attention” as Washington pushes Canada and European countries to take greater responsibility for the continent’s defence.
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“I would expect the UK to receive special attention because it has so much potential,” the official said.
“We will therefore continue efforts to incentivise and enable the UK to step up in a major way.”
Asked whether the US could change its position on the Falklands, the official said: “I can say that they [conversations] are candid and nothing is being ruled out as far as options for encouraging the sort of burden-sharing that we seek.”
Falkland Islanders overwhelmingly backed retaining their status as a British Overseas Territory in a 2013 referendum, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour.
A leaked Pentagon memo in April suggested the US could endorse Argentina’s claim to the islands to punish Nato allies for failing to adequately support the Iran war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later played down the memo, describing it as “just an email” which received an “overexcited” reaction.
The South Atlantic archipelago has been a British Overseas Territory for more than 190 years, while Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands following its failed 1982 invasion.
Further controversy erupted on August 28 when Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, publicly backed Argentina’s claim.
Mr Netanyahu wrote on social media: “The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina!”
The Foreign Office said Britain’s position was “long-standing and unwavering”, adding: “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.
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