Falklands War

Although Argentina is currently not involved in any political conflicts, it has experienced some violent episodes in the past.

The Falklands Crisis (or Falklands Conflict) was a war between Argentina and United Kingdom in 1982. Although the violence did not begin until this year, the dispute had simmered decades, as the sovereignty of the Falkland, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands had never been previously settled.

Argentina had stated that the Falkland Islands had been Argentinian territory since the 19th century, when they had first made their claim of the islands. However, the UK viewed it as an invasion of British dependent territory, as they claimed British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands dated back to 1765, before the Republica of Argentina even existed.

The resulting conflict lasted 74 days after Argentina mounted forces of the Falkland Islands. On June 14, 1982 Argentina surrendered the Falkland Islands to British control, after 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and 3 Falkland Islanders had died.

Although the relationship between Argentina and Great Britain was eventually restored in 1989 following a meeting in Madrid, the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has still evoked public question. Even today, the Argentina government has accused Great Britain for colonialism of the territory and preventing the Argentine Republic from restoring the islands to its "territorial integrity."

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands