The United States is moving ahead with a major Black Hawk helicopter sale to Argentina, a deal worth more than £100million that lands just weeks after Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on whether Washington would back Britain if the Falkland Islands came under attack again.
The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that it had approved a potential foreign military sale to Argentina involving UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, support systems and related equipment, with the package valued at an estimated £103million ($140million).
Under the proposed agreement, Buenos Aires would receive four helicopters, adding a sensitive political backdrop to the transaction given the long-running dispute over the Falklands and Mr Trump’s recent comments about a possible future crisis.
Washington has historically avoided taking sides over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, but the President recently signalled that position could be reconsidered, remarks critics interpreted as an attempt to push Britain into offering greater military support to the United States.
Mr Trump also took a swipe at the UK, claiming Britain was not “doing well” and accusing it of failing to support his military campaign against Iran.
During an appearance on GB News earlier this month, Mr Trump was asked whether the United States would “come to the aid” of Britain if Argentina launched another invasion of the islands, prompting him to recall the 1982 Falklands War.
He said he remembered the first conflict clearly, describing it as “a long time ago” and noting that Britain had “comported” itself well and regained the territory quickly, before adding that the islands were “a long way away.”
He then linked the issue to wider geopolitical tensions, saying Britain relied heavily on oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz but had not been present to assist him.
Mr Trump repeated his criticism, insisting that the UK “was not there” to help him.
The United States is set to sell Black Hawk helicopters to Argentina (pictured: a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter)
The helicopter deal follows remarks from President Donald Trump suggesting he may not support Britain if Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands
Confirming the proposed Black Hawk sale to Argentina, a U.S. official said the agreement would advance America’s “foreign policy goals” while supporting its “national security objectives.”
This will be done, they said, by: ‘Improving the security of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in South America.
‘The proposed sale will improve Argentina’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing the additional capacity to conduct border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.’
Black Hawk helicopters – which have a range of about 320 to 370 miles – have been in use for almost half a century and can carry around 11 soldiers.
They can be equipped with auxiliary tanks that broaden their range to approximately 950 miles, but are scarcely armed making them vulnerable to RAF Typhoon fighter jets which defend the Falklands.
Yet the acquisition of the helicopters comes as a boost for Argentine President Javier Milei, who only recently announced sanctions on oil companies drilling in the Sea Lion oilfield, located close to the Falkland Islands.
Last week, Mr Milei said in a broadcast: ‘In the world, the winds are blowing favourably for our claim [to the Falklands] right now.’
The La Libertad Avanza founder also vowed to construct a new military base at the South American archipelago Tierra del Fuego as part of Argentina’s increasing military alliance with the United States.
Argentine President Javier Milei (pictured) recently announced sanctions on oil companies drilling in the Sea Lion oilfield, which is located close to the Falkland Islands
Black Hawk helicopters – which have a range of about 320 to 370 miles – have been in use for almost half a century and can carry around 11 soldiers (Pictured: A U.S. Armed Forces Black Hawk helicopter seen in Panama)
A US official said the sale of the helicopters will support America’s ‘foreign policy goals’ and ‘national security objectives’ (Pictured: U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters fly over Baghdad)
Responding to Mr Milei, Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted he will be ‘relentless’ in defending the Falkland Islands.
Mr Burnham, speaking at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions, said he would ‘always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British’ amid the escalating tensions with Buenos Aires.
He said: ‘We will not surrender our base at Diego Garcia. We are in discussions with the US about that, we will always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British.
‘That will never change under this Government, and we will be relentless in defending that.’
It is not yet clear if the Foreign Office was aware of the deal to sell Argentina the aircraft – which also includes high-tech navigation and radar systems.
Because of competing sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands, the UK has prohibited the exportation of any weapons or components to Argentina.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said the body could not comment due to the deal being US-based.
