Story highlights Several countries have disputed Falklands ownership since first recorded landfall in17th century

Islands have been coveted as strategic shipping stopover and potential wellspring of resources

Argentina and Britain fought over the islands in 1982

More recently, the Argentinians have accused the British of blatant colonialism

Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has again opened the dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, accusing the British government of blatant colonialism.

Known to the Argentinians as Las Malvinas, the two countries went to war over the territory in 1982 after the then military government in Argentina landed troops on the islands.

In an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron and published in British newspapers Thursday, the Argentinian leader said "Britain, the colonial power, has refused to return the territories to the Argentine Republic, thus preventing it from restoring its territorial integrity."

The British government was swift to respond, insisting that there would be no discussions over sovereignty "unless and until such as the time as the islanders so wish."

It is the latest in a recent series of incidents that has raised tensions between the two countries.

What led to the latest dispute?

Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – British Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope explodes in the bay of San Carlos off East Falkland during the 1982 Falklands conflict. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – British troops arriving in the Falklands Islands during the 1982 Falklands conflict. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – A line of British soldiers in camouflage advancing during the 1982 Falklands conflict. Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Britain's Prince William is deployed to the Falkland Islands on a six-week tour of duty as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – David Cameron has accused Argentina of "colonial" attitudes towards the Falklands. Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has asserted her country's sovereignty of Las Malvinas. Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – A man stands next to a map of the Falkland Islands reading 'They are Argentinian' during a demonstration in front of the British embassy in Buenos Aires in January. Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Argentinian activists burn a Union Jack during a demonstration in front of the British embassy in Buenos Aires in January. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Argentinian war veterans and relatives march with torches in Buenos Aires during the 28th anniversary of the 1982 conflict. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher meets personnel aboard the HMS Antrim during a visit to the Falkands in 1983. Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis, left, visit Stanley Junior School, Stanley on the Falkland Islands in 1983. Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Pictured in 1980, leaders of Argentina (left to right): President General Jorge Rafael Videl, Admiral Armando Lambruschini , General Leopoldo Galtieri and Brig Gen O Domingo Graffigna. Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Photos: Britain and Argentina's standoff Flashpoint Falklands – Sukey Cameron hands in a petition at Downing Street demanding full British citizenship to 300 Falkland islanders whose grandparents were not born in Britain, 25th September 1981. Hide Caption 13 of 13

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Tensions were raised again in December when the UK renamed a portion of the British Antarctic Territory as Queen Elizabeth Land in honor of the British head of state Queen Elizabeth II. Argentina also has a claim on some of the territory and lodged a protest with the British.

Last year also saw a public confrontation between the two countries' leaders when Fernandez tried to hand a letter to Cameron at the