General information
Type of Incompatibility: Territory
Comment on Type of Incompatibility: The conflict concerned Malvinas/Falkland Islands some 480 km off the coast of Argentina, and other islands in the South Atlantic which were governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. The status of the islands had been contested since the early 19th century. After independence from Spain, Argentina proclaimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, but was expelled a few years later by forces of Britain and USA, who used the islands as a base for sealing and whaling. From 1833, the islands were governed by Britain, and most inhabitants are of British descent. However, Argentina has continued to claim a right to the islands, and between 1966 and 1982 negotiations were held under UN auspices over the status of the territory.
Territory: Malvinas/Falkland Islands
Date of first stated goal of incompatibility: 1981-12-31
Comment on date of first stated goals of incompatibility: In late December 1981, Argentina’s foreign minister, Nicanor Costa Mendez, stated to Argentinean journalists that the government would regain the Falkland Islands before the end of 1982, if necessary by force.
Date of first use of armed force: 1982-04-02
Comment on first use of armed force: In the early hours of 2 April 1982, Argentinean forces launched an invasion and seized strategic installations in Port Stanley on East Falkland, announcing the “recovery” of the Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands “for the nation”.
Date of first battle related death: 1982-04-02
Comment on first battle related death: In the early hours of 2 April 1982, Argentinean forces launched an invasion and seized strategic installations in Port Stanley on East Falkland. At least one Argentine naval officer was killed during the invasion in fighting with the small British military contingent on the islands.
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1982-05-02
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: The first major battle in the conflict took place on 2 May 1982. On that day, a British nuclear-powered submarine torpedoed and sunk the Argentinean battle-cruiser General Belgrano, killing over 300 crewmen.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1982
Primary Parties: Government of Argentina - Government of United Kingdom
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 26 |
| Best | 26 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1983
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1984
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1985
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1986
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1987
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1988
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1989
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1990
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1991
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1999
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2003
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2006
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Interstate
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1982 Conflict Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "Best estimate: 908, low estimate: 908, high estimate: >1000.
The best estimate is based on official figures. However, some sources have claimed the Argentine death toll was higher than the official figure, and that the total death toll was over 1000."
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiation: Several negotiation and mediation attempts were launched in order to resolve the Malvinas/Falklands crisis. However, all attempts at a negotiated solution failed due to the Argentinean refusal to relinquish their sovereignty claim, coupled with the British insistence that the first step to negotiations must be the withdrawal of Argentinean forces. Furthermore, the British were adamant that the status of the islands must be based on the wishes of the inhabitants, most of whom were of British descent and supported continued British governance.
On 5 April, the spokesman of the US State Department announced the readiness of the USA to provide good offices in order to help the parties resolve the dispute by negotiation. On 7 April, US Secretary of State Alexander Haig was dispatched on a shuttle diplomacy mission, travelling between London and Buenos Aires to solicit the positions of the parties. On 15 April, Haig presented a peace plan to the Argentinean government and received counter-proposals for a plan to be presented to the British. However, he failed to get Argentinean support for the principle that the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands would themselves determine the status of the islands at the end of an interim period. On 29 April, Argentina rejected the peace plan, saying it needed “further clarification”. On 30 April, Haig stated at a press conference that the peace initiative had collapsed due to the Argentinean government’s “failure to accept a compromise”, and the USA introduced sanctions against Argentina.
Peru, which early on in the conflict voiced its support for Argentina, also launched attempts for a peaceful solution. On 11 April, President Fernando Belaunde Terry presented a proposal for a 72-hour truce to the parties, with the aim of facilitating the US initiative; however, this was rejected by the UK as it implied the British forces would withdraw while Argentinean forces remained on the Falklands. After Haig’s diplomatic initiative failed, Belaunde Terry presented a seven-point peace plan on 2 May. The peace plan proposed an immediate ceasefire and mutual withdrawal, an impartial governing body during an interim period as the parties negotiated a solution, and the recognition of the wishes of the inhabitants of the islands. Haig took part in these negotiations, communicating the Peruvian initiative to the UK. The Peru-US peace plan was rejected by Argentina on 6 May.
The UN Secretary General, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, also attempted to negotiate a solution. Immediately after the Argentinean invasion, the Security Council had passed Resolution 502, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Argentinean forces, and calling on the parties to find a diplomatic solution to the dispute. On 2 May, Pérez de Cuellar presented his own proposal to the parties, reporting to the Security Council on 6 May that he had received positive reactions. He went on to lead indirect negotiations between the parties, with himself acting as intermediary. Talks centred on an interim administration during which a negotiated solution could be found, and included suggestions for verification mechanisms such as aircraft monitoring by a neutral country. At one point during the process, Argentina dropped the sovereignty demand and thus agreed to negotiations where the sovereignty over the islands could be discussed. However, after the rejection by Argentina of British final proposals for a UN-negotiated settlement, Britain withdrew from the UN-sponsored process on 20 May.
Third party involvement: YES
Third party involvement names: US Secretary of State Alexander Haig; Peruvian President Fernando Belaunde Terry; UN Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuellar
Comment on Third Party Involvement: US Secretary of State Alexander Haig conducted shuttle diplomacy and attempted to create a peace plan acceptable to both parties. Peruvian President Fernando Belaunde Terry presented ceasefire and peace plan proposals to the parties, and conducted indirect negotiations regarding these proposals in cooperation with Haig. The UN also intervened through indirect negotiations led by the Secretary General, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.
Victory: YES
Victory side: b
Comment on Victory: After about a month of clashes between the British and Argentinean forces in the Falklands area, navy and air force, the Argentinean forces formally surrendered on 14 June 1982. The surrender followed British recapture of South Georgia on 25 April, landings on West Falkland in mid-May and on East Falkland on 21 May, and advance on Port Stanley 12-14 June. The commander of the Argentinean forces, General Mario Benjamin Menendez, met with British commander Major-General Jeremy Moore at the government house in Port Stanley on 14 June and signed the surrender document, which stated that East and West Falklands and their dependencies were surrendered to the UK.
Comment on Victorious Side: Government of the United Kingdom
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 1982-06-14
Comment on Termination: After about a month of clashes between the British and Argentinean forces in the Falklands area, navy and air force, the Argentinean forces formally surrendered on 14 June 1982. The surrender followed British recapture of South Georgia on 25 April, landings on West Falkland in mid-May and on East Falkland on 21 May, and advance on Port Stanley 12-14 June. The commander of the Argentinean forces, General Mario Benjamin Menendez, met with British commander Major-General Jeremy Moore at the government house in Port Stanley on 14 June and signed the surrender document, which stated that East and West Falklands and their dependencies were surrendered to the UK.
Comment on Termination Date: The Argentinean forces formally surrendered to the British on 14 June 1982.
1983 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1984 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1985 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1986 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1987 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1988 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1989 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1990 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1991 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1999 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2003 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2006 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
