Falklands sabre-rattling and a British prince

By Anna Tomforde Jan 21, 2012, 2:06 GMT

London - The increasingly noisy sabre-rattling between Britain and Argentina over the issue of the Falklands Islands has thrown a delicate spotlight on the forthcoming deployment of Prince William to the disputed islands.

The 29-year-old heir to the throne and search-and rescue helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF), plans to take up his six-week deployment in February.

Unfortunately for him, the increasingly hostile war of words between the governments in London and Buenos Aires could prove to become a political impediment to his military mission.

Argentina has already criticized the plan as provocative. But in London, government officials insist that the timing of the deployment, just a few months ahead of the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina is a 'coincidence.'

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the Falklands commemorations in early June would 'send a strong signal' to Argentina that Britain is ready to defend the self-determination of the 3,000 people living on the islands.

In that context, the presence of Prince William would 'provide reassurance' to islanders, the British government believes.

According to palace and defence officials, changing the date of Prince William's deployment would be difficult.

His presence is required at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in London in June, and later in the year during the London Olympic Games.

Royal sources have described the tour of duty as part of the 'normal rotation' in the military, during which the Duke of Cambridge was being treated 'like any other airman.'

But Argentine veteran Campana Adrian, told the Times newspaper Thursday that the deployment would be regarded as a 'challenge' by Buenos Aires.

'I think it is an aggressive move to send him,' said Adrian, a former marine who fought the British in 1982.

The deployment would also remind Argentinians of the role Prince Andrew, the queen's second-oldest son, played as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the 1982 conflict.

In an outspoken attack earlier this week, Cameron accused Argentina of 'colonialism' by seeking to reopen the issue of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands - a remark that was immediately rejected as 'offensive' by the government in Buenos Aires.

British sovereignty over the islands in the South Atlantic continues to be disputed by Argentina. In 1982, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher went to war with Argentina over the islands, in which 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons died.

Tension has been building up in recent months over an Argentinian-backed blockade of ships from the Falklands in a number of Latin American ports of countries of the so-called Mercosur grouping.

In his response to the rising tension Cameron revealed that Britain's National Security Council met to review its security strategy to 'respond quickly' to any developments in the run-up to the June anniversary.

The government wanted to 'ensure that the people of the Falklands remain free to choose their own future and also that we have the right approach in place to respond quickly and flexibly to any developments,' a spokeswoman said.

The Times newspaper said contingency plans were in place for a swift emergency deployment of troops via Ascension Island to the Falklands, where the British army retains a small garrison of 500.

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