Several countries have disputed Falklands ownership since first making landfall 18th century . Islands have been coveted as strategic military stopover and potential wellspring of resources . Argentina and Britain fought over the islands in 1982 . The Argentinian president has raised the sovereignty issue several times over the last two years , including a claim at the U.N. , but the dispute made global headlines when Prince William , second in line to the British throne , was deployed on a military mission to the islands in 2012 . More recently , the Argentinians have accused the British of blatant colonialism .
Several countries have disputed Falklands ownership since first making landfall 18th century . Islands have been coveted as strategic military 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 .