The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) dispute of 1982 remains one of the most significant territorial conflicts in modern history, highlighting issues of sovereignty, self-determination, and geopolitical tension. The conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the ownership of the Falkland Islands, a remote archipelago in the South Atlantic, culminated in a brief but intense war in 1982. While the United Kingdom retained control of the islands after the conflict, Argentina continues to assert its claim, calling the British presence an ongoing violation of Argentine sovereignty. This unresolved dispute raises questions about colonial legacies, the rights of the island’s inhabitants, and the broader international principles of territorial integrity versus the right of self-determination.

 

Delegates in this ad hoc committee will engage in a historical re-evaluation of the 1982 Falklands War, considering the political, legal, and military factors that shaped the conflict. Key issues for discussion include the competing sovereignty claims, the role of international diplomacy, and the legal implications of territorial disputes under international law. Delegates will also explore the rights of the Falkland Islanders, who overwhelmingly favor remaining under British rule, in relation to Argentina’s territorial claim. The debate will require a careful balancing of historical grievances, the principle of self-determination, and the norms of territorial integrity, with the goal of finding peaceful, diplomatic pathways to resolve this longstanding issue. By re-examining the Falkland Islands conflict, delegates will address not only the specifics of the 1982 war but also the broader challenges of managing territorial disputes in the international system.