War overview and basic facts

Summary

The Falklands War (1982) was a ten-week conflict in the South Atlantic between Argentina and the United Kingdom over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and their dependencies, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The fighting began on 2 April 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falklands, followed by an invasion of South Georgia the next day. The UK responded by dispatching a naval task force on 5 April to retake the islands, and the war ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, restoring British possession. Although neither side formally declared war, both treated the islands as a war zone. The conflict was part of a long-running sovereignty dispute: Argentina viewed its actions as reclaiming territory, while the UK regarded the islands as a Crown colony since 1841 and treated the action as an invasion. The war involved major naval, air, and land campaigns, with significant casualties on both sides and a lasting political and cultural impact—especially in Argentina, where the defeat contributed to protests and the hastening of the junta’s downfall.

Key Points

• 1

  Conflict began 2 April 1982 with Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands; South Georgia was invaded the next day.

• 2

  The UK sent a naval task force on 5 April; the war ended 14 June 1982 with Argentine surrender and formal return of possession to Britain.

• 3

  Neither side officially declared war, but both declared the islands a war zone; the dispute was fundamentally about sovereignty.