Nigel Farage would 'crush' Argentina if it tried to take the Falklands while he is PM, claims Robert Jenrick

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:07 EDT, 5 September 2026 | Updated: 11:09 EDT, 5 September 2026 Nigel Farage would 'crush' Argentina if it tried to take the Falkland Islands while he is prime minister, it was claimed today.Tensions over the British overseas territory have escalated in recent days after Argentinian President Javier Milei reiterated the country's claim on the islands.The South American leader has also moved to enforce a crackdown on oil exploration around the Falklands.Amid the growing row, Reform UK's Robert Jenrick said Mr Farage would use 'every lever of the British state' to defend the islands if he entered Downing Street.He also claimed Mr Milei wouldn't dare to think about taking the territory if Mr Farage was currently the PM.'If Nigel Farage was our PM, we would use every lever of the British state - our Armed Forces, our economic sanctions, everything - to defend the Falklands,' Reform's Treasury spokesman told reporters. 'And we would crush Argentina.'It came after Mr Jenrick used his speech at Reform's conference in Birmingham to swipe at the Government's handling of the dispute.'Let me tell you this, Mr Milei down in Argentina would not for one minute think about taking our British sovereign territory in the Falkland Islands if Nigel Farage was our PM,' Mr Jenrick told Reform members. Nigel Farage would 'crush' Argentina if it tried to take the Falkland Islands while he is prime minister, it was claimed today Tensions over the British overseas territory have escalated in recent days after Argentinian President Javier Milei reiterated the country's claim on the islands.Mr Milei's office announced sanction proceedings against 45 people and companies on Saturday morning as it moved to enforce a crackdown on oil exploration around the Falklands.The Argentinian government said proceedings could also be brought against shareholders and companies providing services to firms involved in the oil projects, although the announcement did not identify those facing proceedings.In a national address on Friday, Mr Milei reiterated the country's claim on the Falklands and said he would introduce sanctions on any oil companies working in the area.The renewed tensions over the British overseas territory came after US President Donald Trump hinted the US would not help the UK in a future Falklands conflict.Following Mr Milei's address, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a post on X: 'The UK's position on the Falkland Islands is unwavering.'The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the Islanders.'Their right of self-determination is paramount, grounded in international law and we will resolutely uphold it.'Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK's commitment to the Falklands was 'absolute and unshakeable'.But Downing Street suggested there would be no UK diplomatic response to Mr Milei's threats, with the UK seeking to bolster ties with the country.In a 2013 referendum, the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8 per cent voting in favour and just three votes against.Although the US is formally neutral, Washington provided support for Britain's campaign to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.It sparked the Falklands War which saw 255 British service deaths in just over 70 bloody days. It also led to the deaths of 655 Argentinians and three Falkland Islanders.