The recent publication of the Malvina Islands capital as "Puerto Argentino" on British Airways' digital maps and entertainment systems has sparked a heated international public debate .
This act rekindles the debate over the legitimacy of Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the southernmost island and maritime territories, given the United Kingdom's persistent refusal to respect the mandates for dialogue issued by the UN and the colonization committee.
The reference to “ Puerto Argentino ” on the digital maps of the British-flagged airline , which is now Spanish-owned , was seen as a clear provocation challenging the official colonialist narrative on the Malvinas.
The scandal spread across various spheres, including the reaction of British war veterans who described the action as " shameful " and " an insult to the people of Puerto Argentino ," the name the British use for the archipelago's capital, as opposed to the Argentine name.
Pierpaolo Barbieri, Argentine businessman and founder of the Ualá platform , enthusiastically shared the news on his X network account . With a simple message, he expressed: “ The day has started well. Thanks @BritishAirways .” The response from the Argentine community and those defending the cause of sovereignty was unanimous in support of these expressions.
British Airways issued a statement saying it was in contact with the third-party provider that supplies the in-flight maps and that the matter would be reviewed.
" We are grateful that this has been brought to our attention and are reviewing it with the third-party provider that provides the onboard mapping service ," an airline spokesperson told MailOnline. However, this action does nothing to disguise the political and symbolic impact of the act.
Former British Royal Navy chief and Malvinas War veteran Admiral Lord West , who also received the Distinguished Service Cross during the conflict, was one of those who expressed his rejection in harsh terms.
“ It’s shameful. The Malvinas are a British Overseas Territory, and 99.9% of the islanders want to remain British ,” he told the British newspaper The Sun. He then insisted: “ We have been very clear that there will be no discussions about sovereignty .”
The United Nations and various countries have repeatedly called for the resumption of bilateral negotiations to achieve a peaceful and definitive solution.
The recovery of the Malvinas Islands, beyond political disputes, is a matter of justice supported by history and international law.
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