The United Nations ratified a report on March 28 fixing the limit of Argentina’s maritime territory; the initial report was filed nearly seven years ago. Argentine officials said its waters had increased by 1.7 million square kilometers (0.66 million square miles)—a 35 percent expansion in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The UN was clear that this decision, by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, would have no impact on the disputed Falkland Islands:

The Commission had already decided that it was not in a position to consider and qualify those parts of the submission that were subject to dispute and those parts that were related to the continental shelf appurtenant to Antarctica.

But that didn’t stop the celebration in Argentina, who proclaimed it a “historic day.” As Associated Press reported, “[T]he decision will be key in its dispute with Britain over the islands.” Argentina argues that the Falklands—which it calls the Malvinas—are Argentine territory and should be controlled by Buenos Aires instead of London. The dispute escalated into war in 1982 when Argentina invaded the islands, attempting to establish its sovereignty.

Mainstream news sources picking up the story ran headlines such as “Falkland Islands Lie in Argentinian Waters, UN Commission,” “UN Sides With Argentina Against Britain Over Falkland Islands,” and “UN Report Reopens Old Wounds Over Falkland Islands.”

A spokesperson for the United Kingdom denied that the UN ruling would have any effect on Falkland sovereignty, but one news site said it was trying “hard to downplay” the extension. The Week said it was “a move that is likely to inflame the country’s tensions with Britain over the land.” The Conversation said, “Unfortunately in the short term, the ruling has invoked only passions and political posturing that does nothing to move towards a solution for the South Atlantic.”

According to the media, any solution involving Britain maintaining the status quo is not really a solution at all.

Based on Bible prophecy, the Trumpet long predicted that Britain will eventually lose the Falklands. For more insight, read “Changing of the Guard” in our free booklet He Was Right.