Obama administration refuses to side with Britain in Falkland Islands dispute

By Julian Pecquet - 03/12/13 03:51 PM ET

The Obama administration is refusing to take sides in the dispute over the Falkland Islands despite a referendum Tuesday where residents voted to remain a British territory.

An overwhelming 99.8 percent of Falkand Island voters cast their ballots in favor of staying British amid renewed sovereignty claims by Argentina. The vote aimed to make the will of the residents clear to Argentina and the rest of the world, but failed to change the position of the United States.

“We've been very clear about what we see in this referendum and the will that's been expressed by the people of the island,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “But that doesn't change the fact that there are competing claims. Our own legal position has not changed.”

The issue came up during Secretary of State John Kerry's very first foreign visit, with British Foreign Secretary William Hague last month. He made it clear at the time that the referendum would not change the administration's position.

“Our position on the Falklands has not changed,” Kerry said. “The United States recognizes de facto UK administration of the islands, but takes no position on the question of the parties’ sovereignty claims thereto.

“We support cooperation between UK and Argentina on practical matters, and we continue to urge a peaceful resolution of that critical issue. And I think that’s exactly what our position has been, that’s what it remains, and we look forward to the future.”

Argentina has been pushing for renewed talks over its sovereignty claims on the tiny island, with which it fought and lost a bloody battle with Great Britain 30 years ago. Argentina wants to exclude the Falkland residents from the talks, but Great Britain says the referendum makes their voice matter.

“We believe in self-determination,” Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday. “The Falkland Islanders have spoken so clearly about their future and now other countries right across the world, I hope, will respect and revere this very, very clear result.”