This month, after four years of tensions between Europe and Russia, the Russian Navy executed an operation in the North Atlantic on the doorstep of British waters. Using an Akula-Class nuclear submarine as a decoy, the Russians sent covert spy subs to map underwater infrastructure, including vulnerable internet cables and pipelines.
Given the precarious nature of the war in Ukraine, the Russian action is being called "brazen" by European leaders. Critics argue, though, that the Russians only carried out the operation because they feel they have little to fear from the Royal Navy.
This problem was further exposed when Iranian missiles and drones targeted multiple British bases in March after the initial start of the war. Kier Starmer sent only one vessel (the HMS Dragon) for air defense, and this ship was then called back in April for maintenance. The military response by the British was called "pathetic" by many who expected at least a rudimentary naval presence for security.
Europe's "hands off" policy in the Strait of Hormuz aside, it is becoming clear that these countries could not field an adequate and functional fleet even if they wanted to. In fact, their apprehensions about helping to secure the strait under NATO might be, in part, a result of their fear of being discovered as militarily impotent.
These recent events and others have led the Trump Administration to question the purpose of a NATO alliance that has nothing to offer and relies almost completely on the US military as a deterrent (or shield) in the face of a wider war. This lack of faith in Europe (including Britain) has bled into orbiting issues, including the Falkland Islands.
Argentine President and Trump ally Javier Milei has launched a new effort to claim control of the Falkland Islands, reigniting a long-standing dispute with the United Kingdom over the archipelago, which once led to war.
"The Malvinas were, are, and always will be Argentine,” Milei said on X in Spanish on Friday, using the Argentine name for the islands. In a separate interview with the Argentine digital channel Neura, Milei said that the country was doing “everything humanly possible” to return the Falklands to Argentina.
LAS MALVINAS FUERON, SON Y SIEMPRE SERÁN ARGENTINAS.VLLC!https://t.co/frox4fn03r
The US has always been "officially neutral" on the Falklands, but leaned in favor of British control for decades. The British media has recently accused Trump of shifting to the Argentinian side and asserting that he might be "plotting" to help Millei reacquire the islands.
This claim comes from a leaked policy memo from Trump advisers about a possible "reassessment" of the US position on the Falklands. It had nothing to do with any statements made by the White House. The mediahas blown the story upinto a tale of betrayal by the Trump Administration against his British friends.
Source: ZeroHedge News
