Javier Milei's ally claims Argentina needs the Falklands as Britain has been 'colonised by Islam'

Mr Caputo described Britain as having once been the “cradle of civilisation”, but claimed the UK was now facing an imminent threat from Islam.

He argued the situation strengthened Argentina’s case for reclaiming the islands, which Buenos Aires calls the Malvinas.

He wrote: “Given the strategic geopolitical relevance that the South Atlantic will take on in the coming decades, the West cannot afford the interference of an Islamic state in that sphere of influence.

“Recovering the Malvinas is not solely a national cause. It is a cause of the West."

Ms Abdi-Wali, who arrived in Britain as a refugee from Somalia during childhood, won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election earlier this month, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

The comments come amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Britain and Argentina over the disputed South Atlantic territory.

Mr Milei has repeatedly demanded that the islands be returned to Argentine sovereignty, describing their current status as an "illegal occupation" by Britain.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last month, the Argentine president threatened to take unilateral action in response to British plans to develop offshore oil resources near the islands.

The Sea Lion oilfield in the North Falkland Basin is estimated to contain as much as 1.7 billion barrels of oil.

Argentina claims the development breaches a 1976 United Nations resolution calling on both countries to avoid unilateral actions over the archipelago.

Mr Milei has also threatened legal action against, and the arrest of, executives at companies licensed to undertake drilling operations.

Earlier this month, the British Government granted final approval for the oil project, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband criticising Argentina’s efforts to pressure companies and individuals involved, describing their activities as legitimate commercial operations.

Buenos Aires later initiated proceedings against the decision at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, based in Hamburg.

Dispute over the islands some 300 miles off Argentina’s coast have long been disputed, with former Argentine dictator Leopoldo Galtieri ordering an invasion in 1982, prompting a 74-day war that ended with Argentine forces surrendering to British troops.

The conflict killed 255 British servicemen, 649 Argentine personnel and three Falkland Islanders.

With tensions intensifying, the British Army has also resumed exercises designed to prepare for a potential invasion.

Around 150 paratroopers recently joined locally trained reservists in a simulated amphibious assault - a six-day exercise recreating aspects of Operation Sutton, the 1982 landings that enabled British forces to retake the islands.

President Milei has been accused of "bullying" the Falkland Islands community, alongside allegations he was "using" the debate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking to GB News, Acting Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Stacy Bragger claimed that the intervention from Mr Milei is "nothing new".

He said: "It's very unhelpful. We think it's another classic example of the attitude Argentina has towards us.

"This is nothing new for us, sadly. We're used to Argentina trying to undermine our economy, so Milei obviously has elections coming up, so he's using the Falklands issue unfortunately again.

"But we're determined just to carry on and try and develop our community and and try and move forward despite the the very unwarranted actions of the Argentine government."