Javier Milei has announced the date on which he intends to hold a vote to decide whether the Falkland Islands should be returned to Argentina. The Argentine President has renewed calls for the archipelago to be handed back after decades of sovereignty disputes. The UK, however, maintains that the Falklands’ sovereignty is “not up for negotiation.” Mr Milei has now revealed the specific day he hopes to hold a referendum that would allow the islands’ residents to determine their national identity.

He is proposing that the vote take place on Veterans’ Day in April, marking 43 years since Argentina’s 1982 invasion of the islands, which triggered the Falklands War – a conflict Britain won. He argued that the people living on the South Atlantic islands, currently under British administration, should be free to choose their nationality, claiming they would “vote with their feet” and opt to be recognised as Argentine.

“There’s no way I would give up on or relinquish territory, but it is clear that individuals will end up voting with their feet,” he told The Telegraph.

“And if you replicate such living conditions that will ensure high standards of living for them, it may well be that they are more willing to recognise that territory as Argentine.”

“Since I consider that the solution is to be sought through peaceful and diplomatic solutions, I think that the best way to show the willingness on the part of Argentina is to show that we also have a commercially adult relationship,” he added.

In response, a Government spokesman said: “Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, and we will defend its right of self-determination. In 2013, the islanders held a referendum on their future, with an overwhelming majority choosing to remain part of the UK.”

The news comes as Mr Milei calls Britain to lift a weapons ban that has been in force since the Falklands War, so his Government can buy state-of-the-art military equipment.

He said: “There are no world powers without military power. There is no country that counts in the international context if they can’t defend their borders.”

However, the Government responded: “There are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls.

“More broadly, we look forward to deepening our cooperation with Argentina across areas including trade, science and culture to deliver growth for the British people.”