UK politicians have slammed Washington’s suggestion of reviewing Britain’s claim to the Falkland islands, with Downing Street saying the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands ‘rests with the UK’.

The Pentagon is exploring ways for the US to punish NATO countries for failing to support the Iran war, including reviewing the UK’s claim to the territory and suspending Spain from the alliance.

The policy options are detailed in an email expressing frustration at some allies’ perceived reluctance or refusal to grant Washington access, basing and overflight (ABO) rights for the Iran war, a US official told Reuters.

Following the threat, a Downing Street spokesman said the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands ‘rests with the UK’.

Asked about the report, the spokesman said: ‘The Falkland Islands have hugely voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK.’ 

The spokesman continued: ‘We’ve expressed this position previously clearly and consistently to successive US administrations and nothing is going to change that.’ 

Asked if Starmer thought this was an attempt by the US to put pressure on him to join the Iran war, his spokesperson said: ‘He has spoken about that and he has also spoken about how that pressure does not affect him, and he will always act in the national interest, and that will always remain the case.’ 

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch meanwhile said there is no need to take Trump’s threat seriously, calling it ‘absolute nonsense.’

A Downing Street spokesman said the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands ‘rests with the UK’

The Pentagon is exploring ways for the US to punish NATO countries for failing to support the Iran war, including reviewing the UK’s claim to the territory

The Conservative Party leader told reporters on Friday: ‘The Falkland Islands are British. They have been for a very long time. The sovereignty is British sovereignty.’

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey added that the plan was ‘outrageous’ saying: ‘This is crazy. Yesterday, President Trump was saying that the [upcoming] state visit by the King would improve relations. 

‘Today he’s threatened tariffs on the UK. And now we have this leaked memo saying he’s threatening British sovereignty in the Falklands.

‘It is absolutely outrageous. The only people who think this state visit should go ahead are Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.

‘It’s totally embarrassing and I think it should be pulled. He can’t keep insulting our country.’

Other politicians took to social media to reaffirm the islands’ British status, with Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters sharing his support alongside photos of himself on the territory. 

Conservative Member of Parliament for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty wrote: ‘The US State Department position on the Falklands is already: ‘We recognize de facto United Kingdom administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty.’

‘What exactly are they planning to review, recognising Argentina’s claim? It was only three weeks ago that Javier Milei, a Trump ally, reasserted Argentina’s claim on the ‘Malvinas’. 

‘The implication here is that the US are prepared to entertain this view.’

And Labour for Newcastle-under-Lyme added: ‘The Falklands are [British] and we don’t need others to tell us that.’

The memo expressing frustration also includes an option to consider reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European ‘imperial possessions,’ such as the Falkland Islands near Argentina.

The State Department’s website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose Libertarian President Javier Milei is a Trump ally.

Britain and Argentina fought in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them. Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insulted Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him cowardly because of his unwillingness to join the US war with Iran, ​saying he was ‘No Winston Churchill’ and describing Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys’.

Britain initially did not grant a request from the US to allow its aircraft to attack Iran from two British bases, but later ​agreed to allow defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British citizens, amid Iranian retaliation.

Reacting to the US threat, Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: ‘Because of his strong personal bond with Mrs Thatcher, President Reagan ultimately backed Britain during the 1982 Falklands War.

‘The fact the Americans could now even be contemplating something like this, shows just how far their relations have deteriorated with Starmer’s hapless, failing government.

‘When the US invoked Article 5 of the NATO Treaty immediately after 9/11 – the only time it’s ever been done – Britain was one of the first countries to respond, with support from our special forces, hunting Islamist terrorists in the caves of Tora Bora.

Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters shared his support alongside photos of himself on the territory

Conservative Member of Parliament for Huntingdon Ben Obese-Jecty wrote: ‘The implication here is that the US are prepared to entertain this view.’

 ‘I was at a conference in Washington DC yesterday, where I politely reminded our American cousins of that very point.’

Another option in the email envisions suspending ‘difficult’ countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO, the US official said.

The US President has harshly criticised NATO allies for not sending naval forces to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping ‌following the start of the war on February 28.

He has also declared he is considering withdrawing from the alliance.

‘Wouldn’t you if you were me?’, Mr Trump asked Reuters in an April 1 interview, in response to a question about whether the US pulling out of NATO was a possibility.

But the email does not suggest that the United States do so, the official said. It also does not propose closing bases in Europe.

The official declined to say whether the options included a widely expected US withdrawal of some forces from Europe, however.

Asked for comment on the email, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded: ‘As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us.

‘The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part. We have no further comment on any internal deliberations to that effect,’ Wilson said.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.