Argentinian President Javier Milei has claimed that his government has initiated negotiations with the United Kingdom to lift a long-standing ban on selling arms to Argentina, a restriction in place since the 1982 Falklands War. Milei also expressed his desire for the Falkland Islands, which are British territory, to be ceded to Argentina through diplomatic means. However, the British government has swiftly and emphatically denied that any such talks are underway regarding either the arms embargo or the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

The arms ban was imposed following Argentina's brief invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982, a conflict that lasted ten weeks and resulted in the deaths of 255 British and 649 Argentinian service members before Argentina's surrender. Subsequently, British government policy has been to prohibit the export of weapons to Argentina if they are judged to enhance Argentinian military capability. Milei argues that "there are no world powers without military power" and that a country cannot be significant internationally without the ability to defend its borders, suggesting a necessity for modernizing Argentina's armed forces, which an Argentinian official described as being in "really bad shape" due to the ban.

President Milei indicated to the Daily Telegraph that he plans to visit the UK in April or May 2026 and hopes to foster a "commercially adult relationship." He has delegated negotiations over lifting the weapons ban to his defense minister. While not ruling out a full military alliance with Britain, he noted it would "depend on the enemy." On the issue of the Falklands, he maintained that giving up or relinquishing territory was out of the question, but suggested island residents would "vote with their feet," implying a future where they might choose to align with Argentina.

A British government spokesperson firmly rebutted Milei's assertions, stating unequivocally: "Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation and we will defend its right to self-determination." The spokesperson highlighted the 2013 referendum, where an overwhelming majority of islanders voted to remain part of the UK, and confirmed that "there are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls."

Despite the disagreement on these core issues, relations between the two countries have seen broader improvements since Milei took power, driven by his Libertarian economic approach. The British government has expressed its desire to deepen cooperation with Argentina across areas such as trade, science, and culture to deliver growth. Furthermore, the United States has reportedly played a part in mediating defence discussions between Britain and Argentina, indicating a broader international interest in the region's stability. Milei is also reportedly set to be the first Argentinian president to visit Britain since 1998, and has expressed a desire to meet with various UK political figures, including Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage, while also extending an invitation for Sir Keir to visit Buenos Aires.