Trump suggests US would not support UK over Falkland Islands due to NATO's lack of Iran war support

President Trump told GB News that he would not automatically support the UK in a potential conflict with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, linking such support to the UK and NATO's failure to provide naval assistance during the U.S. war with Iran. Trump stated that the-then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told him no vessels were available, which "was pretty sad." Trump said: "Your country's not doing well. Don't forget, you get a big percentage of your oil from the Strait of Hormuz, and you weren't there to help me. Nato was not there, even though they get most of those countries get a big portion of their oil from there. So we're doing that by ourselves." When asked by the BBC if he was reviewing the U.S. position on the islands, Trump replied: "I always review every position. That's just one of many." Previous U.S. administrations have formally recognized the UK's de facto administration of the islands but have not taken a formal position regarding sovereignty. The Falkland Islands, in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, have been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina for more than 40 years. In 1982, Argentina and the UK waged a brief war over the territory. A British military task force ejected Argentine forces, which had landed on the Falklands to stake a territorial claim. Seventy-four days of fighting resulted in the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders, and 649 Argentine military personnel. In a 2013 referendum, per BBC reporting, residents of the islands voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% voting in favor and three voting against. The UK government responded to Trump's comments by stating that Falkland islanders "are British with a right to determine their own future." A UK spokesperson added: "The islanders have repeatedly expressed their wish to remain a British overseas territory and our commitment to them is unwavering." Argentine President Javier Milei is scheduled to make a televised statement on September 4 about what he describes as his nation's "historic" claim to the islands. Trump's latest remarks come after he previously stated, according to BBC reporting, that the U.S. could revise its neutral position on the islands' sovereignty if the UK failed to increase defense spending. Trump also said in a Truth Social post that the military was producing munitions at "levels never seen before" and has "far more than we could ever use," contradicting reporting on U.S. weapons shortages during the Iran war. He called media outlets that have reported on such shortages "treasonous scum" who refuse to "accurately report" on the conflict. According to Al Jazeera, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in July that the U.S. had just more than a third of its Patriot missile interceptors left and about half its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors. Large portions of offensive weapons stockpiles, including Tomahawk missiles and other precision munitions, have also been used in the war, per CSIS. Experts have warned that replenishing key weapons stockpiles could take at least two years, even with Trump administration agreements with defense contractors meant to accelerate production. The U.S.-Israel war with Iran stretches into its seventh month, per Al Jazeera.