Reports that the U.S. is considering withdrawing support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands surfaced on April 24, 2026, following the leak of an internal Pentagon memo.

 

US considers withdrawing support for UK's Falklands claim over Iran war stance

Reports that the U.S. is considering withdrawing support for British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands surfaced on April 24, 2026, following the leak of an internal Pentagon memo.

The memo reportedly details potential reprisals against NATO allies, including the UK and Spain, for their perceived lack of support during the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.

 

The "Leaked" Pentagon Memo

The confidential memo, prepared by top Pentagon policy adviser Elbridge Colby, reportedly expresses deep frustration with allies who refused to grant the U.S. full "Access, Basing, and Overflight" (ABO) rights for offensive operations against Iran.

 

Targeting the UK: The memo suggests reviewing the official U.S. position on Britain’s "imperial possessions," specifically the Falkland Islands, as a way to punish the UK for its "reluctance" to join the conflict.

Targeting Spain: It also explores options for suspending Spain from NATO because of its refusal to allow its airspace or bases to be used for strikes on Iran.

 

The tension stems from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s stance that "this is not our war". While the UK eventually granted limited permission for the U.S. to use British bases (such as RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia) for "defensive" purposes—specifically to intercept Iranian missiles—it has consistently refused to join offensive strikes.

 

The Trump administration has reportedly labeled this cautious approach "cowardly," with President Trump allegedly describing Starmer as "no Churchill".

 

Official Responses

United Kingdom: Downing Street has stated that British sovereignty over the Falklands is "unchanged" and "not in question". UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reaffirmed that the right to self-determination for islanders is paramount.

Falkland Islands: The islands' government rebuked the reports, citing the 2013 referendum where 99.8% of voters chose to remain a British territory.

United States: While the Pentagon has not denied the memo's existence, a State Department spokesperson reiterated on April 25 that the official U.S. position remains one of neutrality.

Argentina: President Javier Milei, an ally of Trump, reiterated Argentina’s claim to the "Malvinas," and the Argentine Foreign Ministry signaled a willingness to resume negotiations.

 

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. for a four-day state visit on Monday, April 27, where the issue is expected to be a major point of discussion