United Kingdom Increases Its Presence in the Falklands and Conducts New Military Exercises

In recent days, the deployment of the 2nd Section of the Royal Gurkha Rifles Regiment by the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands, illegally occupied by the European country, has raised concerns among Argentine authorities.

This British military unit conducted an exercise called "Marinization," aimed at strengthening interoperability and preparedness for emergencies in the naval domain.

The operation involved cooperation from the Rotating Infantry Company (RIC) and the crew of the Royal Navy's HMS Forth.

"Marinization"

The "Marinization" training in the Falkland Islands aims to train British soldiers to operate effectively in maritime environments, according to Mercopress. During the maneuvers, the Gurkhas faced simulated scenarios, such as fires and floods within the HMS Forth.

Specialized equipment for immersion and adaptation to extreme conditions was used for these exercises, in order to optimize coordination between land troops and naval forces. As part of the operation, joint patrols were conducted at various points of the archipelago, along with amphibious landing maneuvers.

Additionally, emergency assistance and urgent evacuation protocols were incorporated, with helicopter support in the affected areas.

The militarization of the Falkland Islands

Various voices have warned about the increasing militarization being carried out by the United Kingdom in the Falkland Islands, a situation that has intensified since the 1982 war, in the context of greater control of the area. This situation adds to the existence of a permanent military base, with Royal Navy units operating on Argentine territory.

So far, Argentine authorities have not officially commented on this new military activity in the Falkland Islands, although they continue to maintain their sovereignty claim over the territory.

Moreover, on several occasions, they have urged dialogue and the initiation of peaceful negotiations, but from the United Kingdom, the expansion of its military presence in the South Atlantic persists.

Meanwhile, the media outlet Escenario Mundial reported that, on February 13, an Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), with registration ZM421, landed in Punta Arenas, Chile, according to Zona Militar data. This movement of the A400M adds to a series of British deployments in the region.

Punta Arenas not only functions as an air support point but also as a naval logistics center. Recently, controversy also arose over the use of the Chilean city as an operations base for the research vessel Sir David Attenborough.