Argentina invades the Falklands. Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, or Malvinas, a British possession for 149 years. The British have long claimed sovereignty thanks to the explorations carried out by English navigators in the 17th century, but the islands have been claimed and occupied in the past by Spain, France, and Argentina. For decades, Argentina has petitioned the UN for sovereignty over the Falklands, but Great Britain has consistently opposed it, until Argentine dictator General Leopoldo Galtieri orders the invasion. After diplomatic attempts failed, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher responded with force, and within six weeks her troops crushed the Argentine troops. During the war, Great Britain lost five ships and 250 men, and Argentina its only cruiser and approximately 750 men. In 1989, the islands’ 2,000 residents reaffirmed their alliance with Great Britain, rejecting a pro-Argentine party.
