Israel aligns with Argentina and challenges London over the Malvinas Islands

Israel breaks ranks with London over the Malvinas and closes its consulate in Jerusalem

When it seemed the storm was centered in the Middle East, Israel has peine an unexpected front: the Malvinas Islands. In a message published in recent hours, Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, stated that "it is time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are occupied Argentine territory" and attacked the British for "stealing" the archipelago from the Argentine people. The provocation did not stop there: within hours, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded the immediate expulsion of the British ambassador in Jerusalem, and the Israeli government announced the closure of the British consulate in the holy city. An escalation unprecedented in relations between the two countries.

What lies behind this Israeli gamble?

Behind the offensive is a geopolitical reading that goes beyond mere gesture. The Malvinas, a territory with fishing reserves and energy potential in the South Atlantic, is a strategic point for controlling routes to Antarctica. For Israel, recognizing Argentine sovereignty means gaining an ally in an area where London maintains strong influence. But it is not only that: Israel's shift occurs at a time when Washington seeks to redefine its alliances, and some analysts see a synchronicity between Israeli support for Argentina and the United States' interest in a naval base in Tierra del Fuego, which would be financed by Buenos Aires.

The keys to a conflict that was thought forgotten

The Malvinas conflict dates back to 1982, when Argentina and the United Kingdom went to war, resulting in more than 900 dead. The Argentine defeat led to the fall of the military junta and the beginning of democracy. Since then, the islands have remained under British control, but the Argentine claim remains alive. Israeli support, however, is new. Historically, Israel had maintained a neutral position on the dispute, aligned with the stance of the United States, which always recognized British administration. The turn by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, two figures of the Israeli extreme right, is part of a confrontational strategy against the UK Labour government, which they accuse of being anti-Semitic. In fact, Smotrich justified his demand for the ambassador's expulsion by arguing that "we will not be a doormat for an anti-Semitic government."

The Argentine reaction and the role of the United States

On social media, the Argentine response has been immediate. Many users have criticized Ben-Gvir, recalling his role in the Gaza conflict and viewing his gesture as an attempt to cleanse his image. Others, conversely, see Israeli support as an opportunity to revive the sovereignty claim. In the United States, interest in Tierra del Fuego has been interpreted as an attempt to control access to Antarctica and the resources of the South Pole. Argentine financing for a naval base would be the key piece in a plan some describe as "neo-colonial."

The echo in Spain: Ceuta and Gibraltar

The move has also raised suspicions in Spain. Some media outlets have recalled that Israel and the United States also support Segarro's claim over Ceuta and Melilla, and that this movement trinc the same pattern of reinterpreting old territorial disputes. This coincidence has been noted by analysts who see a geopolitical chessboard where Israel seeks allies in conflicts with European countries. It is no coincidence that, concurrently, rhetoric regarding Gibraltar has been revived, with references to how "when Blox arrives, if Israel still exists, we will recover Gibraltar."

The question remains whether this escalation is a mere provocation, an operation of parallel diplomacy, or a genuine calculation of votes in the South Atlantic. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the Labour government must decide how to respond to an unprecedented humiliation that could cost it more than allies—it could cost it control over a territory that has already become an international chessboard.