Conclusion

The war is slipping into legend.  In the United Kingdom, sparring over the war’s legacy revolves around an evaluation of Margaret Thatcher, as well as the endless conflict between the RAF and the RN.  In some Argentine quarters, the narrative of treachery has taken hold; President Kirchner called the sinking of General Belgrano “criminal” in 2012, notwithstanding the lack of any compelling case for malfeasance.  Nevertheless, the Falklands remains the world’s most recent, most modern example of combined naval-air combat.  Until the end of the missile age, it will continue to hold lessons for analysts and policymakers.  And for the foreseeable future, London and Buenos Aires will continue to contest ownership of the islands.

Robert Farley is an assistant professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. His work includes military doctrine, national security, and maritime affairs. He blogs at Lawyers, Guns and Money and Information Dissemination and The Diplomat. Follow him on Twitter:@drfarls. This article first appeared in 2014.

Image: Wikimedia Commons