Forty years ago, on April 2nd, 1982, Argentine forces invaded and seized the Falkland Islands, a British protectorate peopled by people who overwhelmingly wished to be British. The Argentine junta calculated that there was nothing the UK could do from 8,000 miles away in the North. Margaret Thatcher’s advisors were of the same opinion, but at the end of an exhausting and dispiriting day for the Prime Minister, the First Sea Lord, Sir Henry Leach, was shown in, not having had time to change out of uniform.
The prime minister asked him, “Could the Falkland Islands be retaken militarily?” He replied, “Yes they could, and should be taken.” When she asked him why, he replied that if not, Britain would become “a different country that counted for little in the world.” He told the prime minister that he could have a task force ready to sale within 48 hours.
It sailed, and the Falklands were retaken. The Admiral knew that ships would be lost, but thought the price would be worth paying. General Galtieri and his junta utterly failed to appreciate the degree to which the British would fight back. They also failed to appreciate the hostility that would be shown by the Falkland islanders to their Argentine invaders
Forty years on, and another dictator, Vladimir Putin, has made the same mistake. He thought his superior forces would have a walk-over and be able to take over Ukraine and impose a Moscow-leaning puppet government within four days. He, too, underestimated the opposition and the fighting spirit of the people he was up against.
They have met with stubborn resistance and taken heavy losses. They have failed to take their key objectives, and it seems certain that they will not succeed in subjugating Ukraine. The morale of their conscripts, like that of the Argentine conscripts four decades ago is at rock bottom. They have poor leadership, inadequate supplies, and know they are fighting a war not to liberate a people, but to subjugate a proud people determined to retain their freedom.
The similarities are clear, including one fact about Britain's behaviour. Forty years ago Britain behaved honourably and regained its pride. Similarly, in the case of Ukraine, the UK has played a part in leading the campaign to assist the Ukrainian defenders diplomatically, with sanctions against their enemy, and with the armaments that make their resistance possible.
Just as Britain was able to secure the freedom of the Falkland islanders 40 years ago, it now looks very likely that the Ukrainians, by their bravery and resistance, will secure their own freedom aided by all the help that the UK can give them short of a military intervention that would plunge the world into an unimaginable war.
The UK did the right thing then and now and can take a justifiable pride in standing up to tyranny on both occasions, and helping those who want freedom.