Boris Johnson today laid a wreath at a memorial to the Argentines who died in the Falklands War as he sought to reset diplomatic relations with the South American country.
The Foreign Secretary said the former foes had ‘come a long way’ as he embarked on a three-day mission to revive trade links more than three decades on from the 1982 conflict.
In a sign of thawed tensions, Mr Johnson and his Argentine counterpart Jorge Faurie took part in an unprecedented joint ceremony in the capital Buenos Aires.
They laid wreaths together at Monumento a los caidos en Malvinas – the Monument to the Fallen In the Falklands.
In a sign of thawed tensions, Mr Johnson and his Argentine counterpart Jorge Faurie took part in an unprecedented joint ceremony in the capital Buenos Aires
The Foreign Secretary said the former foes had ‘come a long way’ as he embarked on a three-day mission to revive trade links more than three decades on from the 1982 conflict
The Falklands are still claimed by Argentina, but since his election as president in 2015, Mauricio Macri has significantly dialled down rhetoric on the issue. Pictured: Boris with Jorge Faurie today
The memorial honours the 649 Argentine troops who died in the two-month-long war, but does not mention the 255 British personnel who lost their lives while liberating the islands.
Argentina’s chief of the cabinet of ministers Marcos Pena will next month lay a wreath in St Paul’s Cathedral in London to reciprocate the gesture.
Mr Johnson, who is the first British foreign secretary to visit Argentina in 22 years, said: ‘The relationship between the UK and Argentina has come a long way over the past few years and this visit will be an opportunity to build on and enhance ever closer co-operation on trade, investment, cultural ties, tackling corruption and organised crime, and increasing links in science and technology.
‘As the UK leaves the European Union, my message is that the UK is open for business. I look forward to a new chapter in our relationship, and booming trade prospects, after the UK leaves the European Union.’
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson disembarks a navy patrol boat on the Amazon river near Iquitos in Peru with members of the Peruvian armed forces who are trying to prevent the illegal wildlife trade yesterday
Boris dances with infant class teacher Adriana Pinedo during a visit to the village school in Santa Marta, on the bank of the Amazon near Iquitos in Peru, during his tour yesterday
The Falklands are still claimed by Argentina, but since his election as president in 2015, Mauricio Macri has significantly dialled down rhetoric on the issue.
Anglo-Argentine relations were thrust into the deep freeze for more than a decade by the bellicose approach of Mr Macri’s predecessors Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Kirchner, who used the islands as a distraction from Argentina’s economic woes.
The two sides have been increasingly working together, including on a joint project earlier this year that saw the identification of the remains of 90 Argentine troops in unmarked graves on the Falklands.
Around 1,000 British troops are still stationed on the islands, which has a population of 2,560.
In 1990, Argentina and the UK restored diplomatic relations, however, the situation remained tense.
Five years ago, in 2013, the islanders voted to remain a British overseas territory.
The memorial honours the 649 Argentine troops who died in the two-month-long war, but does not mention the 255 British personnel who lost their lives while liberating the islands. Pictured: British troops guarding captured Argentine soldiers
The two sides have been increasingly working together, including on a joint project earlier this year that saw the identification of the remains of 90 Argentine troops in unmarked graves on the Falklands. Pictured: Argentine soldiers during the war in 1982
Around 1,000 British troops are still stationed on the islands, which has a population of 2,560. Pictured: Argentine prisoners being marched from Goose Green in the Falkland Islands after their surrender
Mr Johnson tomorrow morning will represent the UK at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Buenos Aires, before continuing his tour of South America in Chile.
The Prime Minister is due to visit Argentina later this year for a G20 summit.
Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, became the first minister to visit in 16 years last summer.