Nigel Farage has demanded Britain needs to build up the Royal Navy immediately after Argentina unfurled a “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” flag just moments after knocking England out of the World Cup.
As jubilant players celebrated their dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory, cameras captured several members of the South American squad posing with the banner, which translates as “The Falkland Islands are Argentine.”
The jibe has sparked outrage among Britons, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who took to X to brand the move “disgusting” and called for the UK to increase the size of the Royal Navy.
He wrote: “Whilst I am disgusted at the behaviour of some Argentinian players last night, the most important thing to do is build up the Royal Navy quickly.”
The archipelago was first reached by English explorers more than a century before Argentina became an independent state.
The Falklands had no permanent population before the British arrived.
Argentina’s military junta invaded the Falklands in 1982, but were seen off in just 74 days by the British Armed Forces.
A total of 649 Argentines died trying to take over the British territory.
Nigel Farage has demanded Britain needs to build up the Royal Navy
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In 2013, the Falklands held a referendum in which 99.8 per cent of voters opted to remain British.
Mr Farage’s criticism centres on the Royal Navy’s active escort fleet, which has declined drastically over the last few decades.
The service is down to roughly 12 destroyers and frigates.
Delays and prolonged maintenance cycles have forced ships, like the Type 23 frigates, to operate far beyond their intended lifespans, and some have been stripped of their weapons and sensors.
Argentina’s side held a barrier which read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ or ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentine’ | REUTERS
The Navy also faces a retention and recruitment problem.
Many highly skilled marine engineers are exiting the military, leaving the service short-staffed and less capable of fully crewing its vessels.
Former Defence Secretary John Healey resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet last month over a disagreement about the Defence Investment Plan.
In a resignation letter, Mr Healey criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s unwillingness to commit enough resources to defence.
The incident came moments after the referee blew the final whistle to end England’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup final since 1966
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GETTYIn a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, he wrote: “You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”
He said that “demands on defence have increased still further”.
Mr Healey added that the proposal for spending in the Defence Investment Plan that he was given “falls well short” of what is required as the country faces a “dangerous time”.
The incident came moments after the referee blew the final whistle to end England’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup final since 1966.