The Role of the United States in the Dispute over the Falkland Islands

This study presents the role of the United States in the Falklands crisis. Washington was surprised by the Argentine strike against the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, and found itself in a difficult situation. It had to decide which country to support: Argentina or Great Britain. If the United States supported Great Britain, it could alienate Latin America. The United States was at the same time, a member of NATO, just like Great Britain, and had an obligation to support the British. American government officials attempted to madiate between the two antagonists and find a diplomatic solution. However, it was doomed to failure, and the United States supported Great Britain in the end with intelligence reports and weapons. Great Britain won the Falklands War. Argentina and Latine America came to resent the actions of the United States.