Sister Of Missing Crew Member Claims A Royal Navy Helicopter Was Chasing Her Brother's Argentine Submarine Before It Went Missing

Photo: This picture was tweeted by a Falkland Islands account, saying: '#ARASanJuan as she left port for the last time on Monday, Nov 13'

Daily Mail: MoD blasts claims that a Royal Navy helicopter was chasing an Argentine submarine when it went missing with 44 sailors on board as 'completely untrue'

* Sister of missing crew member said British helicopter chased missing submarine
* Roberto Daniel Medina messaged his sister saying aircraft was tracking them
* Jesica Medina also claimed of family members of crew were told similar stories
* But Ministry Of Defence has denied the claims and said it is 'compeltely untrue'

The Ministry of Defence has denied claims that a Royal Navy helicopter was chasing an Argentine submarine when it went missing.

Jesica Medina, the sister of one of the 44 missing sailors, Roberto Daniel Medina, claimed she had received a 'strange' message from her brother days before the vessel's last known communication.

Read more ....

WNU Editor:  Her comes the conspiracy theories.

More News On Sister Of Missing Crew Member Claiming A Royal Navy Helicopter Was Chasing Her Brother's Argentine Submarine Before It Went Missing

Argentina submarine chased by British helicopter before vanishing, sailor's sister claims -- Fox News
Missing Argentine Submarine Latest: Defense Ministry Denies Royal Navy Helicopter Chased Vessel -- International Business Times
Ministry of Defence denies claim made by sailor's sister that Royal Navy was chasing Argentine submarine -- Evening Standard
MoD Denies Claims That Missing Argentine Sub Was Being "Chased" By Royal Navy Helicopter -- Forces Network

Snowden Documents: UK 'Spied On Argentina' Over Falklands

Reuters/Kieran Doherty

BBC: UK 'spied on Argentina' over Falklands, claims Edward Snowden

Documents released by the American whistle-blower Edward Snowden claim that Britain spied for several years on the Argentine government.

According to reports in the Argentine media, Britain was concerned that Argentina could launch another attempt to reclaim the Falkland Islands.

The two nations fought a war over the islands in 1982.

Last month the British government announced it was upgrading its military presence on the islands.

Mr Snowden says British agents were actively spying on Argentina between 2006 and 2011.

More News On Edward Snowden's Claims That The U.K. Spied On Argentina Over The Falklands

Britain spied on Argentina until 2011 over fears that it would try to retake Falklands, CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden claims -- Daily Mail
U.K. spied on Argentina over Falklands from 2006 to 2011: report -- CBC/Reuters
Edward Snowden documents 'claim Britain spied on Argentina for five years' over Falklands -- The Independent
Snowden Documents Allege UK Conducted Intelligence Operations Against Argentina Over Falklands -- IBTimes
Snowden documents reveal UK spying on Argentina over Falklands -- Deutsche Welle
UK spied on Argentina over alleged new attempt to take Falklands – Snowden leak -- RT
Snowden Documents Reveal UK Spied on Argentina Over Falklands - Reports -- Sputnik

Argentina Declares Economic War Against British Resource Companies

Argentina president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the companies were operating 'in a sovereign area of the Argentine nation and as such fall within its specified laws and rules' Photo: Reuters

Argentina To 'Immediately Launch' Criminal Proceedings Against UK Oil Firms Operating Off Falklands Islands -- The Telegraph

The UK Government said it would support the country's oil companies operating around the Falkland Islands after Argentina announced it is taking steps to sue five British firms.

The Argentine foreign ministry on Monday declared "illegal and clandestine" the activities of Desire Petroleum, Falkland Oil and Gas, Rockhopper Exploration, Borders and Southern Petroleum, and Argos Resources on the grounds that they are drilling in Argentine waters.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the companies were operating "in a sovereign area of the Argentine nation and as such fall within its specified laws and rules". The companies "are not authorised by the Argentine government under law 17.319 on hydrocarbons", she added.

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My Comment: I guess the executives of these companies are not going to visit Argentina in the near (or long) future.

Is Britain "Militarising" The South Atlantic?

Argentina Accuses Britain Of 'Militarising' South Atlantic -- The Telegraph

Argentina ramped up its campaign against Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands yesterday by using an international nuclear summit to accuse the UK of "militarising" the South Atlantic.

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, was forced to fend off accusations that the UK had violated South America's nuclear moratorium by dispatching a Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine to patrol the seas around the islands.

"I'm afraid I'm duty bound to respond to the insinuations made by the Argentinian delegation of militarisation of the South Atlantic by the British Government," he said. "These are unfounded, baseless insinuations."

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My Comment: If Britain was not cutting their military to the 'bone', Argentina may have a point. But .... the reality on the ground is different.

The War Of Words Continues Between Argentina And Britain Over The Falklands

U.K. Fires Back On Falklands Sovereignty -- Wall Street Journal

LONDON—The Falkland Islands are British because they choose to be and there will be no negotiations with Argentina over their sovereignty unless the islanders wish it, the U.K. government said Wednesday in the latest salvo in a simmering diplomatic spat over the disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic.

The statement comes in response to Argentine President Cristina Kirchner's comment Tuesday that she will present a formal complaint in the United Nations over what she called the U.K.'s "militarization" of the situation in the disputed islands.

Read more ....

More News On The British - Argentina Dispute Over The Falklands

Britain Rules Out Talks With Argentina Over Falklands -- New York Times
Britain says UN backs Falklands position, refuses to negotiate -- The Australian/AFP
Britain defends military presence near Falklands after Argentina threats -- The Telegraph
Falkland Islands: Britain denies militarization as Argentina claims ownership -- Montreal Gazette/Canada.com
Downing Street denies UK is 'militarising' Falklands -- BBC
Argentina will take Falklands claim to the UN, says president -- The Guardian
Argentina condemns British "militarization" of Falklands -- Reuters
Argentina takes Falklands spat with U.K. to U.N. -- CBS/AP
Argentina says it will take Falklands question to the UN -- Christian Science Monitor
Argentina Will Complain To U.N. About Britain's 'Militarization' Of Falklands -- NPR
Argentine media on Falklands row -- BBC
Castro mocks UK Falklands claim as Argentina accuses Britain of 'militarisation' -- The Telegraph
Argentina's UN threat: how Falklands‎ diplomatic row has unfolded -- The Telegraph
Falklands: more international support for Argentina after 'militarization' claim? -- Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor
Argentina has no more claim to the Falklands than Canada does to Alaska -- George Grant, The Telegraph

Argentina Trying To Enforce Their Blockade Of The Falklands

Argentina Launches Naval Campaign To Isolate Falkland Islands -- The Telegraph

Argentina has launched a naval campaign to isolate the Falkland Islands that has seen it detain Spanish fishing vessels on suspicion of breaking the country’s “blockade” of the seas around the British territories.

Argentine patrol vessels have boarded 12 Spanish boats, operating under fishing licences issued by the Falkland Islands, for operating “illegally” in disputed waters in recent weeks.

Argentine patrol commanders carrying out interceptions near the South American coast told Spanish captains they were in violation of Argentina’s “legal” blockade of sea channels to the Falklands.

Read more ....

Update: Fury as Argentina operates 'blockade' of Falklands by boarding Spanish fishing vessels operating with British licences -- Daily Mail

My Comment: Her we go again with the Argentinians.

No Change In Argentina's Approach To The Falklands With Cristina Kirchner's Victory As President

Cristina Kirchner's Increasingly Combative Falklands Stance -- The Telegraph

When she was first elected as president of Argentina in 2007 Cristina Kirchner said that her country's "sovereignty" over the Falkland Islands was non-negotiable.

In the four years since she has been given no encouragement by the governments of Gordon Brown or now David Cameron to believe that Britain's position on the issue is anything other than similarly steadfast.

However, the crushing manner of her re-election is only likely to bolster her government's efforts to try to force Britain to the negotiating table through international pressure.

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My Comment: I expect Argentina to focus on the diplomatic front to influence Britain on what to do with the Falklands .... especially with the 30th anniversary of the Falkland's invasion next year. But I also expect nothing is going to happen .... especially since most Falklanders (and Brits) have no interest in negotiating with Argentina on this issue.

Argentina Trying To Enforce Their Blockade Of The Falklands

Argentina Launches Naval Campaign To Isolate Falkland Islands -- The Telegraph

Argentina has launched a naval campaign to isolate the Falkland Islands that has seen it detain Spanish fishing vessels on suspicion of breaking the country’s “blockade” of the seas around the British territories.

Argentine patrol vessels have boarded 12 Spanish boats, operating under fishing licences issued by the Falkland Islands, for operating “illegally” in disputed waters in recent weeks.

Argentine patrol commanders carrying out interceptions near the South American coast told Spanish captains they were in violation of Argentina’s “legal” blockade of sea channels to the Falklands.

Read more ....

Update: Fury as Argentina operates 'blockade' of Falklands by boarding Spanish fishing vessels operating with British licences -- Daily Mail

My Comment: Her we go again with the Argentinians.

Tensions Are Still High Between Britain And Argentina Over The Falklands

Navy Destroyer's 'Routine Patrols' Anger Argentina -- Sydney Morning Herald

LONDON: British warships are on standby to protect commercial shipping to the Falkland Islands as the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said Britain would take a robust stand against any Argentine encroachment on the resource-rich South Atlantic territory.

HMS York, a type-42 destroyer, was on a ''tight leash'' patrolling the seas around the islands in response to rising tensions over British companies' oil exploration near the Falklands.

Read more ....

More News On The Falklands

Falklands rig to start drilling next week despite Argentine protests -- The Daily Mail
Argentina rules out military action in Falklands -- Washington Post
Tension in Falklands rises as rig arrives and Argentina seeks help -- Times Online
Falklands oil row dialogue sought by Argentina -- BBC
PM confident talks can resolve Falklands dispute -- AFP
Oil change in the Falklands: from sheep farm outpost to energy boom -- Mirror
World news roundup: Argentina accuses Britain of 'whipping up' war -- Washington Post

My Comment: Even if Argentina wanted to grab the Falklands .... they simply do not have the resources to even contemplate bringing their soldiers to the island .... let alone holding it.

Another British - Argentina War Over The Falklands?

British Oil Dispute With Argentina Escalates -- The Telegraph

A row between Britain and Argentina over oil exploration off the Falkland Islands is threatening to escalate into a major diplomatic row after a ship carrying drilling equipment was blocked from leaving an Argentine port.

Argentina's government claimed the ship, the Thor Leader, was loaded with pipes bound for the Falklands and accused Britain of "illegally promoting" drilling operations.

Geologists estimate there are up to 60 billions of barrels of oil in the seabed near the Falklands and a British company, Desire Petroleum, is due to begin drilling 100 miles north of the islands before the end of the month.

Read more ....

More News On Britain - Argentina And The Falklands

British drilling for Falklands oil threatens Argentine relations -- Times Online
Falklands oil prospects raise Argentina-Britain tensions -- Yahoo News/AFP
Ship cargo halted in Falklands oil dispute -- Financial Times
Argentina Detains Vessel, Stirring Feud Over Falkland Islands -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: I doubt that Argentina will do a repeat and re-invade the Falklands. But if significant oil deposits are found .... expect tensions and animosities between the two countries to explode.