With the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War approaching, increased diplomatic tension between Argentina and Great Britain could threaten cruise ship visits to Buenos Aires and other ports in the country. Vessels operated by P&O and Fred Olsen are due in Argentine waters within the next few weeks.
Angered by the arrival of helicopter pilot Prince William in Port Stanley, and by the deployment to the South Atlantic of HMS Dauntless, one of the Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced Type 45 destroyers, Argentina’s president has signalled her intention to make a formal complaint to the United Nations. The Foreign Office has warned British visitors to stay away from likely demonstrations on the streets of the capital.
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced yesterday the country would make a formal complaint to the United Nations and said Britain’s “militarisation of the South Atlantic one more time” was a threat to international security.
“We cannot interpret in any other way the deployment of an ultra-modern destroyer accompanying the heir to the throne, who we would prefer to see in civilian attire,” she said
P&O’s Adonia is due in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires on February 19 and 20 as part of its 87-night South American Adventure cruise. Some passengers will be flying into the city to join the ship for the next leg of the voyage, round Cape Horn to Santiago, Chile, while others will be flying out after sailing up the Amazon in Brazil.
After leaving Buenos Aires, the ship is due to sail to Puerto Madryn, founded by Welsh immigrants in 1865, and then on to Port Stanley in the Falklands before putting in to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost port.
A spokesperson for the company said :”There are no itinerary changes at the moment but we follow all the relevant guidelines and the Foreign Office guidelines so should it be deemed necessary to alter itineraries for the protection of our passengers then we would of course do so.”
Fred Olsen’s Balmoral is currently cruising down the west coast of South America, and is due in Buenos Aires on March 4. A spokeswoman said today: As our call on will be nearly a full month before the most sensitive date of April 2, we will continue to monitor the situation closely in accordance with the advice from the Foreign Office, and we will make our decisions nearer the time.”
The Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Argentina, but warns that the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict “has resulted in a much higher profile for the issue and an increase in the number of demonstrations outside the British Embassy and against British interests in Argentina by various activist groups.
“There is usually a demonstration at the Embassy on April 2 each year, the anniversary of the Argentine invasion in 1982. You should avoid planned demonstrations and public gatherings relating to the issue. ”
Another Foreign Office statement added: “The people of the Falkland Islands are British out of choice. They are free to determine their own future and there will be no negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty unless the islanders wish it.”
►On the other side of the world, cruise ship AIDAblu will avoid Bahrain today (February 8), as the anniversary of last year’s troubles approaches. The 2,200-passenger ship, catering mainly to the German market, is operating a season of seven-day cruises in the region, also calling at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. A spokesman for the company said it had chosen to stay away for “at least a week” and is still considering whether to put into Bahrain on February 15.
The news follows Thomson’s decision last week to keep their ship, Celebration, away from Port Sokhna and excursions to Cairo. The ship’s itineraries have now reverted to their original schedule, with all shore excursions available, and a Thomson spokesperson said today: “We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Egypt and work with the Foreign Office.”
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