The President of the United States, Donald Trump, opened the door this Monday to a historic modification of Washington's policy regarding the Falkland Islands by confirming that his administration is reviewing the U.S. position on the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
“I always review all positions. That is just one among many”, Trump responded to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House when specifically asked about the future of the American stance on the archipelago.
The statement takes on exceptional significance because the United States has maintained a formal policy of neutrality regarding the sovereignty of the islands since the mid-19th century. Washington recognizes the de facto British administration, but historically avoided taking a side on either party regarding the sovereignty claims.
Even during the Falklands War in 1982, when the administration of Ronald Reagan ended up providing material support to the United Kingdom, official U.S. documents emphasized that this support did not alter Washington's neutrality on sovereignty.
