Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord Collins spoke during the 56th regular session of the OAS general assembly in Panama City, Panama.
Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Ministers, Delegates, Friends.
On behalf of the United Kingdom, I would like to thank our hosts, Panama, for convening this Assembly.
The UK values its partnerships across the Americas - shaped by history and the many personal connections between our peoples today. This forum plays an important role in strengthening cooperation on the issues that affect us all and we will continue to contribute to solutions to shared problems in the constructive and respectful spirit on which the OAS was founded.
I will turn now to the topic of this discussion, the Falkland Islands.
The United Kingdom's position has been clear and consistent for many years. The question of the Falkland Islands must be considered in light of the wishes of the people who live there. The Islanders have the right to determine their own political future, and they have expressed that choice clearly and democratically. With some tracing their roots back more than 10 generations, the Islanders have nowhere else they call home. Like many in the Americas, their ancestors journeyed to those Islands in past centuries to seek a better life, and shaped the Islands into the thriving and prosperous society they are today.
The people of the Falkland Islands have built a stable, self-governing community with strong democratic institutions. Their elected representatives take decisions on matters that affect their daily lives, reflecting the priorities and values of the local population. This is a community that is confident in its identity and clear about its future.
This principle is fundamental. The right of self-determination is a cornerstone of the international system and applies to all peoples. It is essential to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the rules-based international order.
Calls for discussions on sovereignty do not alter this reality. Any approach to this issue must respect the principle that the Islanders' wishes come first. Without their consent, there can be no change to their status. Their wishes have been made clear - the 2013 referendum with a 99.8% vote on a 92% turnout to remain in the British family, and no subsequent election has questioned that decision. There can be no negotiation without the agreement and participation of the Falkland Islanders themselves.
The UK strongly supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit. The decision to pursue hydrocarbon development was a democratic choice by the people of the Falkland Islands alone, and it is for the Falkland Islands Government to pursue production alongside the commercial companies involved. This is an integral part of the Islanders' right of self- determination.
I would like to emphasise that UK forces in the South Atlantic are entirely defensive. We regularly review our force levels so that they are at the minimum level appropriate to ensure the defence of the Falkland Islands against any potential threat.
None of this changes the UK's desire to maintain a respectful and fruitful bilateral relationship with Argentina; nor our commitment to constructive engagement in the South Atlantic. We will continue to support practical cooperation where it serves shared interests, including in areas such as environmental stewardship and sustainable economic activity.
Colleagues, this is ultimately a question of the foundational principles of the international system. A population has exercised its democratic rights and made its position known. Respecting that choice is both a legal obligation and a reflection of the values that underpin this Assembly.
The United Kingdom will continue to uphold that principle and encourages others to do the same.
