Relationship dossier
Argentina
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Relationship assessment
Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the islands contrasts with their administration as a British Overseas Territory.
Argentina toward South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
-40Argentina’s constitution asserts sovereignty over South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and calls for their recovery in accordance with international law. The Argentine government rejects British sovereignty over the islands.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands toward Argentina
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Argentina claims sovereignty over South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which it regards as part of its national territory, and rejects British sovereignty over them. Argentina’s constitution calls for recovery of the islands through peaceful means and in accordance with international law. The territory is a British Overseas Territory and does not conduct an independent foreign policy.
Areas of tension
- Competing claims over sovereignty and the status of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Key developments
Argentina’s constitution incorporated a provision asserting sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and calling for their recovery through peaceful means and in accordance with international law.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Argentina’s practical government actions specifically concerning South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is unclear.
- The territory’s distinct role, if any, in bilateral matters with Argentina is unclear.