Theresa May said she will never let anyone threaten the Islanders right to decide their own future

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Theresa May gave them the guarantee, amid continuing sovereignty claims by Argentina, 35 years after its failed invasion of the British overseas territory.

It came in her Christmas radio message to the remote South Atlantic archipelago. The Falklands War in 1982 ended with the islands returned to British control after an Argentine surrender.

During the fighting 255 British and about 650 Argentine servicemen were killed, plus three Falkland islanders.

In 2013, residents voted overwhelmingly for the island to remain a UK possession.