Navy ship in Uruguay raises tensions 06.01.12
10Tensions have been raised after a Royal Navy warship entered a South American port operating an embargo against ships linked to the Falkland Islands. HMS Protector, the Navy's ice patrol vessel currently on a scientific mission to the South Atlantic, called in at Montevideo, Uruguay, en route to the Falklands. But its presence in the port in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War caused local media to question its presence. The national newspaper El Observador placed a photo of the ship on its front page with the headline "English ship in port". The article was critical of the government for allowing the warship to enter. The move is controversial as it follows the implementation of an embargo on December 21 by the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay stopping ships sailing under the flag of the Falkland Islands from entering their ports. But Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said British-flagged civilian ships would still be allowed to use its ports. And an MOD spokesman said that HMS Protector, which flies under the white ensign of the Royal Navy, had the full permission of the Uruguayan authorities to be in the port. He said: "The Uruguayan government has fully authorised HMS Protector to go there and actually gave us a two-day extension to the visit. "HMS Protector sails under the white ensign and there is absolutely no issue of her being there as she is on a scientific mission." Argentina has restated its claims to the Falkland Islands since the UK has in recent years stepped up its oil exploration in the area.