Argentina's president admits the Falkland Islands are 'in the hands of the UK' as he vows to use diplomatic channels to gain possession of the territory 42 years on from conflict

The Falkland Islands are still in British hands, Argentinian president Javier Milei has admitted in an interview with the BBC. 

The right-wing politician, who made headlines across the world following a successful election campaign which saw him repeatedly pose with a chainsaw, told the corporation the islands are 'in the hands of the UK'. 

Milei, in contrast to previous leaders of Argentina who have maintained a claim to the islands, has now admitted there is no 'instant solution' to the decades-old dispute, and his government does not 'seek conflict'.

But it comes after he last month promised a 'roadmap' for the Falklands to pass into Argentinian hands in a speech to coincide with the 42nd anniversary of the Falklands War. 

The 1982 conflict over the islands led to the deaths of more than 900 people, including 255 British servicemen. 

The controversial president made his statement after Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron visited the islands in February. Lord Cameron said during the trip that the Falklands' sovereignty was not open to debate, and the islands would 'remain part of the family'.

'If that territory is now in the hands of the UK, he has a right to do that. I don’t see that as a provocation,' President Milei said.

His comments contradict his previous claims in April, when he said he wanted to 'reiterate our unwavering claim for the islands'.

He added he was determined to see a plan for how the Falklands would 'return to Argentine hands', and criticised his predecessors for 'mere words' in 'international forums with no impact on reality'.

But this week Milei also praised Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister at the time of the war, as 'brilliant' while speaking from his office, which is home to a bust of the first female UK leader. 

He said: 'Criticising someone because of their nationality or race is very intellectually precarious. I have heard lots of speeches by Margaret Thatcher. She was brilliant. So what's the problem?'

Britain established an administration in the Falklands, called the Malvinas in Argentina, in 1834. Residents on the island lived in peace until 1982, when Argentina launched an invasion of the territory.

The UK, led by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, chose to send troops across the world to defend the territory, which remains under British protection. 

In a ten-week conflict, British forces pushed the Argentinians out of the islands, killing around 649 personnel.

In 2013, an internationally recognised referendum saw 99.8 percent of the population vote to remain a British Overseas Territory.