Argentina is on mission to make the 40-year anniversary of the Falkland War count. The Falkland Island issue has been simmering since 1982, and Argentina has chosen to up the ante. Especially in India.
The Falklands found a mention in the recent joint statement of minister of external affairs S. Jaishankar to the country. India “reiterated its support to the resumption of negotiations to find a solution to the sovereignty issue'' relating to the Question of the Malvinas Islands—as the Falkland issue is referred to in Argentina-- “in accordance with the Resolutions of the UNGA and the Special Committee on Decolonisation.”
Things have become much more complicated now. Especially, as China has chosen to throw its lot with Argentina. In February, on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics, China’s President Xi Jinping and Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez issued a statement reaffirming China's “support for Argentina’s demand for the full exercise of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.”
This is not the first time that the ten-week-long conflict or undeclared war--very much an emotive issue in Argentina--has cropped up in India. The Argentines lay stake to the islands—a claim that dates back to 1800. But the British insist that the islands are British. And post 2013, when the islanders have voted to stay, the stand has been bolstered.
In April, when the foreign minister of Argentina, Santiago Cafiero, visited India, he mentioned raising the issue with Jaishankar. In an interview with WION news, Cafiero said it had been the key focus of his visit to India.
“Now we are here starting up for the commission of dialogue on Malvinas islands, our claim is really the core part of our foreign policy and well, we had a bilateral meeting with EAM Jaishanker,'' he said.
India, however, chose to focus on the economic aspects of the visit. “A productive meeting with FM @SantiagoCafiero of Argentina on his first visit to India. Discussed expanding our bilateral trade and cooperating in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, electronics, e-mobility, defence & atomic energy. Will work closely in G20 and multilateral forums,” Jaishankar tweeted.
The timing of Santiago's visit—and his key agenda for India—interestingly was just two days after former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had visited India. And in a way, these two visits within days of each other illustrate the balance South Block needs to maintain. In an attempt to drum up support for the issue, Argentina established a Commission for the dialogue on the question of the Malvinas Islands in India. Bringing together eminent personalities across the spectrum, the Commission had Suresh Prabhu, Shashi Tharoor, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, Shazia Ilmi, Former Ambassador Rengaraj Vishwanathan and Dr Sonya Gupta. The commission, however, sources claim has been a nonstarter.
India has chosen to play safe and stick to its usual stand—of resolution in accordance to the UNGA and the Special Commission for Decolonisation. There is plenty at stake. Argentina has expressed interest in the made in India Tejas fighter aircraft for Argentine Air Forces. There has also been a strong support for India to become a member of the Nuclear Supplier Group. And India will find a way to attend the 4oth anniversary bash without making too much of a commitment.