In 1982, the United Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, went to war with Argentina in the South Atlantic to retake the Falkland Islands. Unprovoked, Argentina had invaded the Islands and occupied them for two months. Against the odds, Prime Minister Thatcher assembled a naval task force and deployed it to the South Atlantic to liberate the Islands and their…
Fellows Luke Coffey and Ted Bromund discuss the century-long feud between Argentina and the United Kingdom over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands on this week's Heritage in Focus. Jackie Anderson hosts. To get regular updates on Heritage in Focus podcasts, visit our RSS feed or subscribe on iTunes.…
On March 10–11, the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, will hold a referendum to decide whether to maintain allegiance to Great Britain. The islands are self-governing but maintain the British monarch as their head of state. The referendum is an answer to Argentina, which, though defeated by Britain in the 1982 Falklands War, is again…
In 1998, President Bill Clinton designated Argentina as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) of the United States—a highly sought-after status that includes exclusive military-to-military cooperation. Today, only 15 countries in the world enjoy MNNA status. However, Argentina under the leadership of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is not the dependable and friendly Argentina…
Argentina’s president Cristina Kirchner will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, according to a report in The Independent. The newspaper describes this as a “snub” to the UK by Buenos Aires: Argentina has decided not to send its president to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in a diplomatic snub to Britain at a time of growing…
Thirty years ago today, the Falkland Islands War between Great Britain and Argentina ended with a cease-fire after a hard-fought British campaign to liberate the islands from their Argentine occupiers. That victory would not have been possible if Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had not launched the daring campaign and if the United States, under President Ronald Reagan,…
In a blatant show of disdain for the Anglo–American Special Relationship, the Obama Administration has weighed in on the mounting tensions between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Just two days after Prime Minister David Cameron issued a robust statement in the House of Commons in mid-January vowing to defend the sovereignty of the Falklands, the…
President Obama was effusive in his praise for the Special Relationship when he visited London in May, but his Administration continues to slap Britain in the face over the highly sensitive Falkland Islands sovereignty issue by aligning itself with Argentina’s call for U.N.-brokered talks on the future of the islands. This reckless approach toward the U.S.–U.K.…
Abstract: In Argentina, the rule of law and free-market principles have been weakened dramatically over the past decade. Under the leadership of Nestor and Cristina Kirchner, economic freedom in Argentina has been in a virtual freefall, corruption has been rampant, and the government’s ties to strongmen in the region, such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, are…
Abstract: Backroom deals between members of the governing class and their hand-picked cronies influence the legislative, executive, and regulatory actions of governments around the world. Examples of this ancient form of corruption abound. Government intrusions into the private sector as a partner, financier, or outright owner are not only morally hazardous, but…
Argentina’s ranking in The Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom—now 135th out of the 179 countries ranked in the Index—has declined steadily in the seven years since President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, took power. It is by far the lowest ranked G-20 nation. Recently Charles…
Felipe Calderón, who began his single sexenio (six-year term) as President of Mexico in December 2006, has made significant progress in the fight against narcotrafficking, but Mexicans are still waiting to see whether his government will successfully challenge the private- and public-sector monopolies and duopolies that dominate huge portions of mexico economy. These…
The death of Margaret Thatcher received extensive media coverage in Chile, proving that the “Dama de Hierro” (“Iron...…
Yesterday, the Falkland Islanders went to the polls and voted in a historic referendum to remain a part of the United...…
When the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands, a small British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, go to the...…
Iran defiantly continues to expand its uranium enrichment program despite international sanctions and multiple U.N....…
Argentina’s government is having a terrible week. The bad week started when the nation was censured by the...…
Argentina and Iran have agreed to establish a “truth commission” to investigate the 1994 bombing of the Argentine...…
In 2011, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez organized the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2011...…
In Santiago, Chile, on January 28, the new regional body, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC),...…
Is President Obama channeling Juan Perón? The President does seem to have a few things in common with the political...…
Today the Falkland Islands are observing Margaret Thatcher Day. Thirty years ago today, during her first visit to the...…