The Falklands War

The Falklands War

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The Falklands War was fought between Argentina and the U.K. in 1982 over the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands. Argentinean forces invaded the Falklands on April 2nd, claiming their sovereignty.

At the time, Argentina was embroiled in an economic crisis and civil unrest over the unjust rule of the military junta. Government leader General Leopoldo Galtieri sought to divert rising public unrest by exploiting his country’s long-standing territorial feelings towards the Falklands.

The British launched their famous navy to retake the islands by amphibious assault, and the ten-week conflict resulted in 649 Argentinean deaths and 258 British deaths. The British were victorious, although the war was never declared by either country.

General Galtieri’s diversion backfired, and the Argentinean people doubled their outcry against the military junta to hasten its overthrow and force the General’s resignation. Conversely, then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s political party rode to victory on a wave of patriotism following the Falklands War in 1983.