Exploratory drilling has started 100 miles off the Falklands Islands looking for oil.

This has angered Argentina, who claim sovereignty over the Islands, which are British. Argentina claim that the drilling is happening in Argentine waters. They are even considering taking the case to the UN. South American and Carribean countries support Argentina.

Personally, I don't think Argentina has a leg to stand on. The Falklands are a British territory. That makes the waters around them British waters. So we can drill for oil if we want.

Argentina still hasn't got over the war in the 1980s (Argentina invaded the Falklands, and held sway until British troops arrived to, as the locals call it, liberate them). This is another case of Argentina staking a claim to land that is, frankly, not their's.

The problem is, the diplomatic situation is deteriorating. Britain can ill-afford a repeat of the Falklands War. Not right now. I have no doubt that if it came to it, we will defend the Islands, and defend it successfully (there is a standing garrison of 2,000 troops stationed there). However, this is a situation we really do not need right now.

South America, Central America and the Carribean nations have formed an alliance which may end up like the EU. This could give them a united front against England. Would the UN step in if there were a conflict?

How did the Falklands become a British territory, by the way?

The Falklands have been a disputed territory since explorers found them in 1700s. The British claimed the Eastern Island, Spain (via Argentina) the Western. Over the years, both countries withdrew, and eventually the British returned, and they have officially been British since, although Argentina still disputes the claim.

It is interesting to note that since 1983, Falklands Islanders have officially enjoyed full British nationality. Argentina also recognises them as being full Argentine nationals. However, the Islanders themselves consider themselves to be British, and dismiss their Argentine nationality.

Well, that isn't all that surprising considering that the majority of the islanders are originally of British decent so why would they possibly want to become part of Argentina?

That and there's the whole British economy being a bit more stable than Argentina's.

But that is where Argentina's claim falls down. Britain has maintained that for sovereignty to revert to Argentina, a referendum would need to take place and the Islanders would have to vote in favour of Argentina. Frankly, that's not going to happen. Any vote would undoubtedly go in favour of Britain.