Argentina’s economy minister has further inflamed tensions over the country’s claims to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic with a recent public declaration that the British-governed islands “are Argentine”.

The minister’s rhetoric mirrors that adopted by other Argentine politicians and officials in recent months.

The Argentine Government has been on a diplomatic push to gain international backing for the country’s position on the Falklands.

China was singled out for praise recently by Argentina’s Foreign Ministry for lending support to Buenos Aires’ efforts to pressure London into entering into negotiation over the future of the islands.

The Foreign Ministry’s state goal is to establish a “renewed bilateral agenda on the South Atlantic that includes, among other issues of interest to both parties, the resumption of negotiations on sovereignty”.

Read More Argentina presidential candidate teases plan to wrestle Falkland Islands from UK

During a recent ceremony opening the “Héroes de Malvinas” [Malvinas Heroes] train tunnel in Florencio Varela, Economic Minister Sergio Massa again insisted that the Falkland Islands belonged to Argentina.

He told the audience: “The Malvinas are Argentine. We do not praise Margaret Thatcher, we are Argentineans”.

Tensions between the Governments of Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands worsened last month with Buenos Aires reacting angrily to the British carrying out military exercises around the Atlantic archipelago.

The UK’s “Cape Bayonet” military drills in the Falklands drew heavy criticism from Alberto Fernández’s administration, which accused Britain of flouting UN resolutions.

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In response, the British Government explained the drills were required to improve “self-defence” capabilities.Argentina’s Foreign

Minister has already poured fuel on the row over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands by announcing at a medal-pinning ceremony that the fight to take over the British-governed island is not over.

Minister Santiago Cafiero made the inflammatory remarks at the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum while pinning medals on veterans of the Falklands War.

He told the former combatants and gathered families that “The Malvinas cause is in the people, it is in our DNA, in what we feel and what we live”.

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