UK’s Prince William has arrived to Malvinas Islands amid simmering tensions between Britain and Argentina over the disputed South Atlantic archipelago that also includes South Georgia and Sandwich islands.
William’s arrival, ahead of a tour of duty as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot, comes as the Royal Navy prepares to send one of its most advanced new warships to the area.
The heir to the British throne will be crewing one of two search-and-rescue helicopters on call 24 hours a day for missions flying out of a large British military base, 45 minutes from Puerto Argentino, the islands’ capital.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesman revealed that the Prince «will shortly take up SAR duties post a period of briefings and a familiarisation flight.»
Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman slammed Prince William’s visit, saying it is an act of provocation as the prince “will be wearing the uniform of a conqueror when he deploys.”
However, the British Ministry of Defence stressed that the mission was routine as the Royal Navy press officer rejected suggestions the decision to send the ultra-modern destroyer HMS Dauntless to the region represented an escalation of the UK’s position.
Referring to the deployment of HMS Dauntless and William’s tour of duty as an RAF search and rescue pilot, Timerman last night expressed his rejection to “the British attempt to militarize the conflict’”.
Likewise, the Foreign Ministry released a statement indicating that “Governments should avoid the temptation of falling into a discourse … that aims to distract public attention from belt-tightening economic policies.”
Last year, many government officials considered William’s deployment as a provocative act that shows Britain’s military presence in a zone of peace where there is no armed conflict.
UK’s General Sir David Richards denied that sending the Duke of Cambridge to the Malvinas Islands was designed to provoke Argentina.
In conversations with British reporters, the military said: “’I can absolutely tell you it wasn’t and isn’t designed to be.
buenosairesherald.com