Up next in 10
Henry Riley is joined by the top elected official in the Falklands, Jack Ford, Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, to discuss Donald Trump's new threat about the region.
Speaking to the press alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin on the first day of his two-day visit to Ireland, the US president said "here we go again," in reference to rising Falklands tensions.
Mr Trump proceeded to say that he has doubts over whether the UK will be able to defend the Falklands from Argentina in the same way that it did in 1982.
"I don't know if [the UK is] going to be willing to travel that far," said the president. "That is very far away. You're talking about weeks by boat. I don't know."
00:00 | Trump's statement
00:43 | Jack joins the show
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Well, the Falkland Islands is very interesting, because here we go again
0:03
They went in and they took it over. I'm not sure they're doing that
0:09
They have a little problem with immigration. They have a little problem with energy
0:13
And they have some other problems they have to take care of. So I don't know. I don't know if they're going to be willing to travel that far
0:19
That is very far away. You're talking about weeks by boat. So I don't know
0:29
I'm sure I'll be called into that potential disaster. But if they do, I'll probably be able to settle it out
0:37
But right now you have two countries that are not happy concerning the Falklands
0:42
It's a good question. President Trump speaking yesterday. Jack Ford is chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly
0:48
He's the most senior elected official on the islands and joins me now. Thank you very much for joining us, Jack Ford
0:53
What did you make of the comments from President Trump yesterday? nice to speak to you the comments we've seen before from from the president and and just in
1:03
the same way we've seen the same comments come out of previous argentine prime minister presidents
1:07
as well uh following the statement made last last week so uh we're very much not concerned in the
1:12
falklands the the key relationship we have is is with the uh with the united kingdom and as we've
1:16
seen over the last couple of weeks and months that that that permission that position remains
1:20
unchanged uh it's been restated by by ministers by the foreign secretary and by the prime minister
1:25
most recently that they have their unwavering commitment to defend our rights to self-determination
1:30
and our right to remain British for as long as we wish remains the case
1:34
Does it worry you though? I mean, we have this talk about the United States possibly changing its position from neutrality
1:40
We know that various US presidents, particularly Ronald Reagan were very instrumental despite that position in helping during the Falklands invasion I mean how do you respond to that potential change in position from President Trump
1:58
It's been confirmed a few times this year already, following the Leakes-Pentican memo several months ago that brought up this matter again
2:07
It's been restated by the State Department that their position remains unchanged, their position is one of neutrality, and that hasn't changed
2:14
So I think we very much see that as the official position of the United States. Of course, it's..
2:19
Could I suggest it's unhelpful when there are off-the-cuff comments like this
2:26
It's not the most helpful thing, but I think we've seen it several times. And as we see with the comments coming out of Argentina, they're not new
2:34
And the most important thing is that it doesn't change the position. And we're very clear about what our position is, and so is the UK government
2:41
And we don't see that changing. You mentioned in your first answer that the most important relationship, so far as you're obviously concerned, is the relationship between the Falkland Islands and the United Kingdom central government
2:53
I mean, often it cited this poll, this referendum that took place where there was, I mean, to say it's overwhelming would almost be an understatement of 99.8, I think, from memory, percent of Falkland Islanders voting to remain part of the UK
3:09
do you think that position will have changed at all in the intervening decade or so
3:18
No, I don't think that position has changed here in the Falklands. If anything, the more we see comments like this, the more that position will remain unchanged
3:26
So no I don see that view within the community here in the Falklands being any different from the referendum result in 2013 How helpful is it when you have these conversations and leaving aside the politics of it for one second but as someone living on the if you a Falklander which I think is that the right expression
3:48
or a Falkland Islander, I mean, is this something that is dominating everyday conversation
3:56
I wouldn't say it's dominating day-to-day life here in the Falklands. the impact it has on us is it has an impact of course i mean it has been having an impact for
4:07
for many many years well for many decades and particularly since since the the war in 1982
4:12
it's something we've we've had to try to get used to living with and we've adapted to it and have
4:17
prospered despite all of the the barriers that argentina attempt to put in the way so the the
4:22
threats of economic sanctions and other measures that were made by the president of argentina last
4:26
week um again are nothing new we've seen that before and um they've continued to develop and
4:31
grow despite of anything they've tried to do in the past and expect to do the same going forward
4:35
but surely those bellicose statements by the president of argentina um whilst as you say
4:41
being absolutely confident in in your own position will be concerning potentially even
4:47
frightening for some people living on the islands of course there'll be particularly individuals who
4:54
members of my own family who lived through the war in 1982 have lived through the events before
4:59
and after that of course comments such as these from argentina absolutely have an impact they
5:04
sat and watched as a as a foreign power invaded their home and attempted to take it forcefully
5:10
only for that to be to be returned to them and their freedom restored um so of course when whenever
5:15
there are comments such as these from from argentina it absolutely has an impact on members
5:19
of our community. But I think, as we've seen over the years, that strong commitment and support from the UK government just very much provides that comfort and reassurance The positive relationship we not only have with the current government but right across both Houses of Parliament the close relationship we have with the MOD
5:36
I think provides that reassurance and comfort that our position isn't going to change
5:40
and we're able to grow and continue our lives in a peaceful way
5:45
Are you getting enough support from the UK government then, the Ministry of Defence, etc.
5:51
Absolutely. I mean, we enjoy a fantastic relationship with the armed forces that are based here in the Falklands
5:57
and a good relationship with Whitehall. And as we've seen, I think, through the statements made by members of the government in the last couple of weeks
6:05
and following the events of the World Cup and statements made, the leaked memo from the Pentagon
6:10
again and again we see comments and statements of support from not just the government
6:15
but from MPs and peers from across the political spectrum. lastly um i don't know where you normally do your shopping but i read that that the supermarket
6:24
iceland is to open its first store on the falkland islands so i wondered if you'd seen that and what
6:29
your view is on that is i would say just another another statement of support and confidence in
6:36
the falklands and that despite um statements coming out of argentina that there is still a
6:41
confidence in our our future and our um economic the robustness of our of our economy and the
6:47
potential for the future. So I think a positive statement for us in the Falklands
6:52
Thank you very much for joining us. Jack Ford is chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative
6:56
Assembly. Legislative Assembly, I'll get that eventually. Most senior elected official on
6:59
the islands. If you're interested, by the way, Supermarket Iceland is going to open its first
7:04
branch in the Falklands, according to the boss, Lord Walker, formerly Richard Walker. He said the
7:08
store's going to be opening in December and posted on LinkedIn that it would be the first UK high
7:13
Street Brands to open there. The shop will be in the capital, Stanley, and it will serve a population
7:18
of 3,500 people
#news