Deployments to Falklands just routine insists Hague

His comments came as Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and other leaders in the left-leaning ALBA bloc backed Argentina over its long-running dispute with Britain.

Argentina, which claims Britain stole the archipelago 180 years ago, calls them the Malvinas and tensions have escalated into a diplomatic war of words over the Duke of Cambridge’s six-week posting to the Falklands as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot and the announcement that HMS Dauntless, an ultra-modern Type 45 destroyer, will set sail for the South Atlantic on her maiden mission in the coming months, to replace frigate HMS Montrose in the region.

Mr Hague said: “(The events) are not so much celebrations as commemorations. I think Argentina will also be holding commemorations of those who died in the conflict. Since both countries will be doing that I don’t think there is anything provocative about that. Nor is there anything provocative about entirely routine military movements.”

And he added: “Prince William is on a routine deployment that is part of his job.”

Argentina is keen for diplomatic and economic measures to pressure Britain to comply with United Nations resolutions encouraging both countries to negotiate the islands’ sovereignty. Britain has refused to do so, with Ministers insisting Argentina’s position is historically incorrect, and it is not for either state to decide a matter which is entirely for the islanders to determine.

At its meeting in Caracas, the eight member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance approved an agreement barring any boats flying Falkland Islands flags from docking in their ports.

“I’m speaking only for Venezuela, but if it occurs to the British empire to attack Argentina, Argentina won’t be alone this time,” Mr Chavez said. Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa suggested the countries take stronger measures. “We have to talk about sanctions,” he said.

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