How France helped both sides in the Falklands War
bbc / Mike Thomson
05-Mar-2012 (one comment)

In his memoirs, former UK Defence Secretary Sir John Nott describes France as Britain's "greatest ally" during the Falklands War. But formerly secret papers and other evidence seen by the BBC show that was not the full story.

Before the war, France sold Argentina's military junta five Exocet missiles.

At the time, few suspected that the regime's longstanding claim on the Falklands would lead to war, and the sale went largely unnoticed. But when in May 1982 these Exocet missiles were used to strike Britain's HMS Sheffield and Atlantic Conveyor, with the loss of 32 British lives, near panic ensued in London.

At the start of the conflict, France's left-leaning president, Francois Mitterrand, had come to Britain's aid by declaring an embargo on French arms sales and assistance to Argentina.

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Darius Kadivar

Beyneh khodemoon Ma Faransavyha ham khoob opportunist hasteem

by Darius Kadivar on Mon Mar 05, 2012 08:23 AM PST

Aval Aslaheh beh do taraf Too Jangeh Iran va Iraq Forookhteem va Bad ham too Jangeh Malouines ...

 

 

 

But never mind the Islands are still French nevertheless ;0))


France established a colony at Port St. Louis, on East Falkland's Berkeley Sound coast in 1764. The French name Îles Malouines was given to the islands – malouin being the adjective for the Breton port of Saint-Malo. The Spanish name Islas Malvinas is a translation of the French name. 


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