US President Donald Trump said on August 31 that Washington could reconsider its position on sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (also known as Islas Malvinas), responding to a question about Argentina’s longstanding territorial claim against Britain, while the Argentine government has adopted what it describes as a cautious approach to the remarks.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office whether he was considering a change in the US position on the disputed islands, Trump said: “I always review all positions. That is just one of many.”

It was the first time Trump had publicly commented on the sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain, according to the report.

The United States has historically maintained a neutral position on the sovereignty question, although Washington has at times shown support for Britain in the dispute. A change in that stance could have broader implications for the strategic balance surrounding the South Atlantic.

The comments came after British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Washington was reviewing its commitments to Nato allies in connection with new defence-spending targets. The report said US officials were concerned that the UK had not yet presented a sufficiently detailed path towards the 5% of gross domestic product defence-spending target promoted by the Trump administration.

A US official said discussions with London remained open and that “no option is off the table” in efforts to achieve greater burden-sharing among allies, The Telegraph reported.

The issue has gained additional relevance for Argentina because of the close political relationship between Trump and President Javier Milei. Buenos Aires continues to claim sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, while Britain insists that they are a British Overseas Territory.

Argentina's government has so far sought to avoid interpreting Trump's remarks as a formal shift in US foreign policy. 

The remarks also came shortly after US Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas said Washington's position had not changed.

“The United States has a neutral position on the islands. That has not changed,” Lamelas said in an interview last month, TN reported.

The disagreement over the islands remains one of Argentina's most sensitive foreign-policy issues. Argentina has maintained its sovereignty claim for decades, while Britain has repeatedly reaffirmed its control of the territory. The remote archipelago was the site of a short conflict in 1982 that killed 649 Argentine and 255 British military personnel. The diplomatic row resurfaced in July when Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semi-final, and players celebrated by holding up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentine).

Trump also addressed the UK during the same exchange, saying the country had “some problems, but they will be resolved” when asked about whether the government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham should increase its current spending commitments.

For now, any potential change in Washington's approach to the Falkland Islands remains speculative, with no formal policy alteration announced by the US government.