British troops trained to ‘recapture’ Falklands – Times

A regular military exercise in the Argentine-claimed islands reportedly included amphibious maneuvers for the first time in years British troops have practiced retaking the disputed Falkland Islands in the event of another Argentine attempt to take over the territory, The Times has reported.

The exercise comes as tensions rise between Britain and Argentina over a British-Israeli oil project near the islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.

Buenos Aires claims sovereignty over the territory and surrounding waters.

The drills, held from September 27 to October 2, included amphibious landings for the first time in years, according to the newspaper.

During the exercise, Argentina announced international arbitration proceedings against Britain in an effort to block the $2.2 billion oil project.

British forces regularly hold exercises with local troops on the islands.

The latest Cape Upholder drills involved around 150 British paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA), and 100 members of the Falkland Islands Defense Force. Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram Публикация от Permanent Joint Headquarters (@defenceops) The exercise took place in several locations on East Falkland, including near San Carlos where British troops landed during the 1982 war with Argentina.

According to The Times, the drills included amphibious operations to retake the islands, rather than the usual focus on defending them. © RAF via X / @charliehparker Argentine President Javier Milei, an ally of US President Donald Trump, has renewed his country’s claim to the islands and opposed the Sea Lion oil project.

British firm Rockhopper and Israeli company Navitas plan to begin oil production about 220 km (137 miles) north of the islands in early 2028.

Britain has also urged Interpol to reject Argentine requests to arrest people involved in the Sea Lion project, including British nationals, The Guardian reported.

London argues that the requests are politically motivated.

Read more Argentina demands UK halt Malvinas/Falklands oil project In early September, Milei announced plans to revive a naval base project in Ushuaia, southern Argentina.

He called British plans to extract oil claimed by Argentina a threat to its sovereignty and reaffirmed Buenos Aires’ goal of regaining control over the Falklands.

Trump has also questioned whether Britain retains the military capabilities it had under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during the 1982 Falklands War, while declining to give a clear commitment of US support in the event of another conflict.