Burnham tells Trump Britain will defend Falklands position

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he told U.S. President Donald Trump that Britain would stand firm in defending Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination and to remain British, as Argentina’s president renewed his country’s sovereignty claim to the islands at the United Nations. Burnham made the remarks to reporters after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 22. He said the issue came up during their first face-to-face meeting and that he wanted Trump to hear Britain’s position directly. Trump made no public response about the Falklands, according to one account of the meeting; Burnham said Trump understood what he was telling him. The meeting came as the United States’ approach to the dispute remains uncertain. Trump said in August that the U.S. position was under review, according to reports of his comments. That review has not amounted to a declared change in policy. The United States has not taken a formal position on sovereignty, though it has recognized Britain’s de facto administration of the islands, one account said.