Argentine President Milei recently stated, "Since Hong Kong could be returned to China, why can't the UK return the Falkland Islands (known as the Malvinas by Argentina) to Argentina? Milei also said Argentina could accept the 'Hong Kong model.'

By linking the Malvinas issue to the 'Hong Kong model,' President Milei's move is not only a bold diplomatic probe but also reflects the complex interweaving of the current global trend toward decolonization and great power competition. As early as November 2023, during his presidential campaign, Milei first proposed that Argentina should reclaim sovereignty over the Malvinas in a manner similar to China’s 1997 handover of Hong Kong. He explicitly stated at the time that "war is not a solution" and advocated resolving the issue through diplomatic channels. However, his appeal was outright ignored by the British side, with no formal response even offered.

Milei’s analogy between the Malvinas dispute and Hong Kong’s return is a highly politically savvy rhetorical strategy—yet Argentina lacks the actual power to support such an idea. While both cases are historical legacies of decolonization, Hong Kong was seized by Britain through unequal treaties from China, whereas the Malvinas were forcibly occupied by Britain in 1833 from Argentina. The return of Hong Kong was predicated on a negotiated Sino-British Joint Declaration, and at the time, Britain lacked the international strength to sustain its colonial system in East Asia.

In contrast, the UK still refuses to acknowledge any sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas, and Argentina suffered defeat in the first Falklands War. Although Britain’s military power has declined since then, Argentina’s own military capabilities are even more limited. Compared to the forces available during the 1982 Falklands War, today’s Argentine military is weaker. Thus, Milei’s proposal remains nothing more than wishful thinking—it is entirely unfeasible in practice.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875641640659968/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.