First visit since Conservatives came to power in 2010 signals improving relations despite Falklands dispute

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Sir Alan Duncan will on Monday become the first Foreign Office minister to visit Argentina since the Conservatives came to power in 2010 in the strongest sign yet that Anglo-Argentinian relations are recovering despite the continuing dispute over the Falkland Islands.



Duncan will focus on improving business links, but will also hold a bilateral meeting with Argentinian officials on the Falklands. The UK wants to extend direct flights from the Falklands to South America beyond the current weekly flight from Chile. The flights are limited by Argentinian controls over its airspace. Argentina want any new flights from the Falklands to be focused primarily on journeys to Buenos Aires.

The two sides are also likely to discuss rights to explore for hydrocarbons in the waters off the Falklands, including ideas for joint exploration raised by Susana Malcorra, the Argentinian foreign minister. At present Argentina imposes sanctions against companies seeking to cooperate with any British exploration.



Malcorra told the Guardian last week that she wanted to end the very confrontational approach of the previous administration of Cristina Kira Fernández de Kirchner.



She said the two countries agreed on 80% of issues, and co-operating on those should not be blocked by those over which they differed.

The Argentinian claim to the islands, described as the Malvinas by Argentina in the country’s constitution, will not be revoked.

The UK Foreign Office said Duncan’s visit followed “an improvement in relations between the UK and Argentina since the election of President Mauricio Macri last year. It marks an important step forward following more than a decade of difficulties under the isolationist approach of Argentina’s previous government.

“This is important for Britain, because having a better relationship with Argentina also means we can get a better deal for the Falkland islanders.”

During the two-day visit Duncan will attend a business and investment forum hosted by Macri in Buenos Aires and hold meetings with senior government ministers, including Malcorra and the deputy foreign minister Carlos Foradori.

The Argentinian economy is heavily dependent on the ailing Brazilian economy.

Duncan said: “This is a positive time for the relationship between the UK and Argentina. Our countries have many deep links, including in culture and language, and I hope my visit will help us take a step forward together.”

